Just Car Clinics is the second largest company of car care and repair centres in the UK, specialising in motor collision repair and maintenance for cars, vans and motorbikes.
APPRENTICES ARE JUST THE JOB FOR ACCIDENT REPAIR INDUSTRY AFTER LATEST QUALIFICATIONS SUCCESS
Tuesday 18th October, 2011

The first apprentices to embark on the Just Car Clinics dedicated apprenticeship programme for accident repair are celebrating after passing the initial milestone on the way to becoming fully qualified.
 
The group of 11 team members undertaking apprenticeships with Just Car Clinics have all successfully achieved the latest stage of their training and development within the apprenticeship programme, attaining the Intermediate Apprenticeship at Level 2 in Panel or Paint. The programme, which is the first of its kind in the country to be wholly run by an independent accident repair group, is scheduled to be concluded in May 2012 as the apprentices aim for the Advanced Apprenticeship at Level 3.
 
Just Car Clinics commenced the apprenticeship programme in 2009 after identifying the advantages to both the company and prospective apprentices. Chris McGowan, Just Car Clinics Technical Trainer, explained: “The apprenticeship programme really is a win-win situation for both Just Car Clinics and the apprentices. By providing the opportunity to develop with us it ensures that we have an influx of highly skilled, motivated employees into the business who have received specific training to the exceptionally high standards we demand. In return the successful apprentices gain not only immediate employment but also the skills that can help them to enjoy a highly successful and rewarding career for years to come.”
 
One of the apprentices, Michael Francis, aged 24 from Grimsby, was first employed by Just Car Clinics as a valetor before deciding to pursue a different career.  He said: “When I first took the role as a valetor I was pleased to just have a job, however I soon realised that Just Car Clinics was a company that provided opportunities for career progression for those that wanted it. When I learned about the apprenticeship programme in Panel and Paint I saw it as the perfect opportunity to take the first steps on a new career path and I have loved every minute of it. “
 
Chris McGowan himself took advantage of a change of career within Just Car Clinics to become Technical Trainer after previously being a Panel Technician, a role for which he was named Bodyshop Magazine Panel Technician of the Year in 2003. He said: “After winning the award I reflected on my career and I realised that what I really wanted was to get involved with the training of people who were starting out in the industry.
 
“With the apprenticeship programme we take a holistic approach and even ensure that additional development and training such as air conditioning is included so that the apprentices are also certified for this. Just Car Clinics has continuously demonstrated a willingness to promote from within and we really are hoping that these apprentices will go on to be our managers of the future.”
 
The apprentices travel from their regular places of work at Just Car Clinics centres located across Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire to the Goole training centre for a four day block session every month, as this was found to be more effective than getting them together for one day every week. Michael Francis said: “The apprenticeship programme is undoubtedly hard work and can be pretty intense, but Just Car Clinics make every effort to encourage us to be successful, going as far as even picking up the lads who don’t drive and taking them home again of an evening!
 
“We are all delighted to be successful in achieving our Level 2 qualifications but there is a lot of hard work to go before we hopefully also achieve Level 3 in May, when not only will I hopefully continue in full-time employment but I will also have learned skills that will last me a lifetime.”


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Just Car Clinics is the second largest independent company of crash repair centres in the UK covering the North and Midlands. We specialise in accident repair for cars, vans and motorbikes and are specialists in car care maintenance services.
We repair more than 45,000 vehicles each year and our customers enjoy the convenience of a wide range of complementary services including servicing, MOTs, new tyres, windscreen repair, wheel realignment, air conditioning servicing and valets.
Every Just Car Clinics site is Kitemark approved and has ATA accredited technicians and estimators. We have our own training facility and training team and believe in investing in every member of our team.
Some of the biggest UK insurers, motor manufacturers and fleet management companies trust Just Car Clinics with their vehicles each day. You can too!
National Accident Repair Group
National Accident Repair Group JCC is one of the founding members of National Accident Repair Group, a national network of accident repairers comprising nine of the UK's top car repair groups. Launched in 2010, National-ARG has 104 car repair sites across the UK and has secured repair and maintenance contracts with leading insurance providers.