Recycle a Car partners with local college to help budding mechanics gain hands-on experience
Derbyshire based vehicle recycler, Recycle a Car, is working in partnership with Chameleon School of Construction to help give trainee mechanics hands-on experience by providing vehicles for its motor vehicle maintenance courses.
Chameleon School of Construction is an award-winning provider of training courses across the Midlands and the UK, with top-tier training centres located in Burton, Swadlincote, Staveley and Ripley. For students with aspirations of joining the motor industry, the college offers the IMI Level 1 Diploma in Motor Vehicle Maintenance and IMI Level 2 Diploma in Light Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Principles.
The Recycle a Car team has pledged to support the college with a regular supply of end of life vehicles for the students to practice on, to help them learn their way around an engine. The first vehicle delivered to Chameleon’s Swadlincote campus was a 58 plate Vauxhall Vectra, which is already being put to good use in the workshop.
Head of Textile and Vehicle Recycling at Recycle a Car, Clare Harby, said: “We believe in the importance of younger generations learning to repair vehicles and gain a trade which will set them up for life. We want to support students in our community and as part of our partnership with the college, have pledged to provide vehicles for the students to practice on and learn to diagnose and repair faults. We hope this will help many students to develop a career in motor mechanics, by providing access to vehicles they need to learn their trade on.”
The college offers fully funded training programmes and works with young learners looking for an alternative route into skilled trades, unemployed individuals looking to re-enter the workforce and adults wanting to upskill. It offers both diplomas and NVQs in vehicle mechanics, allowing their students to get employment within the motor vehicle industry.
Daniel Pearson, Motor Vehicle Technician added: “At Chameleon School of Construction, we are focused on providing hands-on, practical training in plastering, bricklaying, tiling and motor vehicle maintenance. Our mission is to help learners of all ages gain the skills they need to succeed in their chosen industry and the hands-on part of that is very important. Getting a regular supply of real-life vehicles for students to work on is difficult, not to mention expensive, so partnering with Recycle a Car to be able to provide cars that students can gain real ‘under the bonnet’ experience is so valuable to enhance their learning.”
Teresa Swift, Centre Manager at Chameleon School of Construction added, “I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Recycle a Car for their generous support and commitment to our learners. The impact of providing real, end-of-life vehicles for our motor vehicle students cannot be overstated – it transforms learning from theory into meaningful, hands-on experience and gives learners the confidence to develop real, industry-ready skills.
“Access to vehicles like this allows our trainees to learn fault diagnosis, repair techniques and safe working practices in a realistic workshop environment, which is vital for progression into employment. This partnership not only removes a significant barrier to practical training but also demonstrates a genuine investment in young people and adult learners within our local community. We are incredibly grateful to Recycle a Car for helping us open doors, raise aspirations and support the next generation of skilled motor vehicle technicians.”
Recycle a Car is an Authorised Treatment Facility (ATF) and salvage yard for recycling end of life vehicles. It processes cars, vans or motorbikes that are unrepairable and no longer roadworthy or would cost more to repair than are worth to sell. It will provide a range of vehicles for the college as suitable ones become available as part of their ongoing partnership. Once the vehicles have been used for learning, the Recycle a Car team collects the vehicles for depollution, processing and scrapped for recycling.
For more details about training courses available at Chameleon School of Construction, visit: https://www.chameleonschoolofconstruction.co.uk/.
For details on Recycle a Car, end of life vehicle scrap and salvage services, visit: https://recycleacar.com.