Bluecycle helps give young technicians an open road to a career

Accident damaged vehicles are being given a new lease of life in the skills training of young automotive technicians at a charity project based in Norfolk, UK, thanks to the involvement of Bluecycle, the leading online car salvage business.
 
 
Shane Wilson (left) and Stuart Atkinson, Bluecycle
Shane Wilson (left) and Stuart Atkinson, Bluecycle
March 14, 2011 - PRLog -- Accident damaged vehicles are being given a new lease of life in the skills training of young technicians, thanks to a new partnership between online car salvage specialist, Bluecycle and Open Road West Norfolk.

Funded by the West Norfolk Partnership and set up as a charitable organisation, the Open Road facility helps young people to achieve national vocational qualifications in automotive technology, awarded by the Institute of the Motor Industry, designed to initiate a career path in engineering based sectors.

Bluecycle, the online marketplace for automotive salvage and a wholly owned subsidiary of Aviva, the UK’s largest insurer, provides a number of cars and motorcycles, which are rotated regularly to ensure that the students get ‘hands on’ with modern vehicles in Open Road’s state-of-the-art automotive workshop, based in Kings Lynn.

The structured training programme enables students to work under the expert guidance of qualified technicians.  By attending Open Road for one or more days a week, students acquire practical skills, as well as confidence. Equally important, they develop a strong work ethic, teamwork skills and increased self esteem, as well as earning an industry-recognised qualification.

Terry Smith, Open Road West Norfolk Project Lead, explained:

"Since we opened our doors in 2009 we have had 60 students progress through the programme.  Watching the way that they have developed and flourished has been brilliant.  Many of them did not have strong academic backgrounds and yet have gone on to continue training in this field.

"I believe that this is just the start of our success story and we’re delighted to have the support of major industry partners such as Bluecycle and Snap-on, which ensures that we can give students the opportunity to work on the latest vehicles with the latest in tools and diagnostic equipment.”  

One of the students at Open Road is 16 year-old Shane Wilson, who is working towards securing an Apprenticeship in the motor industry with a local firm. He said:

“Open Road has given me a real sense of determination and direction in my life. I love working on cars and it’s my ambition to have my own garage business in the next twenty years. But you have to start somewhere and I’ve now got a chance to get some important and relevant qualifications here.”

Commented Stuart Atkinson, Digital Brand Manager, Bluecycle:

“It’s important to us that we can make a difference wherever possible to people by affording opportunity and skills development and at the same time looking at ethical and meaningful ways of utilising some of the 50,000 vehicles a year that we handle. Our partnership with Open Road is already having a major effect on the lives of young people and we look forward to seeing the project develop further.”

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Notes to Editors:

For more information about Open Road visit http://www.openroadtraining.co.uk

Bluecycle is a leading online auction business, specialising in automotive and commercial plant salvage. Hundreds of on-line auctions are held each week and the company has handled in excess of 600,000 vehicles through its state-of-the-art internet trading system.

Bluecycle manages the complete disposal process, from vehicle recovery, documentation processing and storage to completion of the sale. Additional services, such as replacement vehicle provision, set Bluecycle apart from its competitors, giving customers the reassurance of dealing with a team whose expertise and professionalism are second to none.

http://www.bluecycle.com

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Based in Hertfordshire, UK, Blackbird Communications is a public relations consultancy that helps clients to be seen, heard and understood in their markets. Whatever your story, we can help you tell it.
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