Toyota creates opportunities for young technicians
During this week’s Automechanika Birmingham show, The Toyota Motor Company announced an exclusive collaboration with Autotech Academy to help create a future pipeline of young automotive talent.
The partnership will see the launch of a new initiative - Toyota Talent Powered by Autotech Academy – which will support the motor company’s people strategy and ambition to increase the number of vehicle technicians working across its UK network of over 240 Toyota and Lexus Retailers.
Based upon the successful Autotech Academy concept, which sees newly qualified Level 3 automotive students placed into the industry as paid interns before securing permanent employment, Toyota Talent Powered by Autotech Academy, is set to help over 100 young people in the first 6 months secure an automotive career.
As part of the initiative, Autotech Academy has employed a new Careers Manager who will become a ‘Toyota Ambassador,’ and spearhead the campaign. Based at parent company Autotech Group’s headquarters in Milton Keynes, the new Toyota Ambassador will work with colleges and representatives from Toyota and Lexus to identify and interview potential interns.
Each intern will receive a toolbox and uniform before being placed within a Toyota or Lexus dealership on a 6 month internship.
The initiative was created following a successful pilot at Steven Eagell Group, the UK’s largest Toyota and Lexus retailer which saw over ten interns placed by Autotech Academy last year.
While following the model of Autotech Academy’s offering, which has helped place over 200 interns across the UK automotive aftermarket since its launch in early 2021, Toyota Talent has been tailored to suit Toyota’s exact needs.
This includes a more extensive induction process, including an online assessment, and additional training during the 6 month internship which will help the interns towards achieving their Toyota licence.
Greg Culshaw, General Manager Customer & Network Support, Toyota (GB) comments: “We believe that talented, passionate, and enthusiastic people are key to our continuing success. Our Retailers across the UK offer outstanding working environments, structured genuine career progression supported with excellent World leading training. We are therefore excited that these opportunities have now expanded with our Toyota Talent Powered by Autotech Academyinitiative, helping more talented and super trained Technicians to join Toyota.”
It is, according to Autotech Group’s Managing Director, Simon King, the opportunity for Toyota and Lexus to grow their own talent: “We are delighted to be working with Toyota to launch this initiative. We have worked with them to shape the internship offering to suit Toyota’s needs exactly. By doing so we will support their recruitment objectives and ensure that each intern gets the best possible chance of securing a permanent position and long term career at the end of the 6 months.
The Toyota Talent Powered by Autotech Academy initiative was officially launched during a student event at Automechanika Birmingham on Thursday 8th June by Greg Culshaw, General Manager Customer & Network Support, Toyota (GB) and Gavin White, CEO of Autotech Group.
For more information visit www.autotechacademy.co.uk