Automotive 30% Club

To celebrate last week's #NationalApprenticeshipWeek we asked Maisie Maye to share her story ✨ "After my A-levels, I took a gap year to consider my future. Despite some doubts from my family, I chose an apprenticeship over university. The opportunity to gain a qualification while earning an income felt like the right decision for my career goals—and it turned out to be one of the best decisions I've ever made. I joined DSG as a Motor Finance Specialist, where I had the unique opportunity to rotate through various departments—from compliance and underwriting to dynamic, customer-facing roles like sales. This hands-on experience gave me a deep understanding of how the business operates while contributing to real-world projects that made an impact. The application process was straightforward yet exciting: I submitted my CV, answered a few key questions, and had interviews with my apprenticeship provider, Calibre Group Solutions, and DSG. My qualifications included 5 GCSEs A*-C, with business or finance-related A-levels being a plus. Every day as a business manager in the non-prime department is different. I liaise with customers and dealer groups to arrange finance packages, collaborate with my team, and support training and performance initiatives. Weekly training sessions and regular check-ins with my manager helped me apply new knowledge and grow both personally and professionally. In just 18 months, my apprenticeship led to a permanent position as a mandated underwriter at Unity Auto Finance. From there, I progressed into sales as a business manager and eventually became a team leader. The best part? Earning while learning and gaining invaluable industry experience. If you're considering an apprenticeship, go for it! Embrace every opportunity, ask lots of questions, and stay open-minded—it’s a fantastic way to kick-start a rewarding career!" #myapprenticeshipstory #NAW2025 #Auto30Club

🎉 National Apprenticeship Week 🎉 And what a week it has been .. Started off in Birmingham where one of our wonderful apprentices took part in #TheBigAssembly! Thank you Kasim Usman & Tina Patel for having us along, it was great to have Chloe on the panel sharing her story! The team have been out and about at various events through the week rounding off today with our Girls with Skills taster day at our GTG Training centre in Edinburgh! This coincides with our support for the Automotive 30% Club #MyApprenticeshipStory campaign! We had 3 more of our great apprentices join us today to talk about their journey! Great week all round - well done team! 🚗 countdown is now to our apprentice intake on the 3rd of March and Scottish Apprenticeship Week! Lauren Macdonald Denise Elliott Levi Glaister Zoe McCallum Elise Cameron #NAW2025 #skillsforlife #apprenticeships #ourAClife

We hope you’ve enjoyed getting to know some of our amazing apprentices this week! It’s been fantastic to shine a spotlight on their vital role in our industry and their impact on our future. To wrap up an incredible week, meet Shannon Harrison, an Apprentice Service Advisor at JCT600 Volkswagen Wakefield. 10 months ago, she took on a new challenge and made the switch to an apprenticeship for a more rewarding career path. Here’s why she believes apprenticeships are the way forward: "An apprenticeship means you can grow in business while learning what working life if like, as well as challenging yourself with different skills!" #JCT600 #ourJCT600 #NationalApprenticeshipWeek #NAW2025 #MyApprenticeshipStory #DriveMyCareer Automotive 30% Club Drive My Career

To celebrate #NationalApprenticeshipWeek, we caught up with Annie to tell us a little bit about her apprenticeship story!🙌 "I never liked the idea of going down the traditional university route. It just didn't appeal to me. I'd studied business in college, and wanted to use the skills I'd learnt in the automotive industry as I've always had a passion for cars. Thankfully, I had a lot of my family working within different area's of the motor trade, so I trusted their advice! They mentioned going for an apprenticeship, and its one of the best decisions I've made. I now find myself as an apprentice Service Advisor, where I get to earn some money and learn the industry. One of my favourite things about the apprenticeship is I get to speak to customers and help people which I love, and it is always nice to see returning familiar faces! Its helped me grow my confidence, my communication skills, and time management! I hope to progress to one day become a Service Manager, and help develop future generations of up-and-coming apprentices." Automotive 30% Club #MyApprenticeStory #NAW2025 #Auto30Club #SkillsForLife

Back in 2022 I joined Autotrader as a Sales Apprentice at Auto Trader UK, and now coming up to 3 years later I'm working full time as an Account Executive. Looking back, it was the best decision I made so thought I would share a little bit about my time in a blog. The blog post covers the decisions I made before applying, my experience throughout the apprenticeship, and what I'm up to now. We are currently hiring for the Sales Apprentice roles (link in the comments). If you are considering an apprenticeship and my journey resonates with you, feel free to drop me a message with any questions you might have, Autotrader related or not! #MyApprenticeshipStory #Auto30Club Automotive 30% Club

#MyApprenticeshipstory Automotive 30% Club At the age of 18 I squashed my dream of being a nurse (it really wasn't me!) and embarked on a journey to be a motor vehcile technician. Starting on a full time level 2 course at Wiltshire College, I got an apprenticeship at a local Ford dealership....It wasn't easy, some people had no faith in me because I was 'a girl'. There was some rather extreme 'banter' there, which didn't phase me but looking back was totally inappropriate. However, it shaped me into the resilient person I am today, I have self confidence and can take a joke (no matter what). After completing my apprenticeship I worked for the RAC as a roadside technician and loved EVERY minute, from the cold, wet wheel changes at the side of the road to representing them at Goodwood FoS and on C5 Winter Road Rescue. Since then I have moved into Education, teaching motorvehicle, worked in service reception, quality and compliance and now as an apprenticeship Learning and Development coach at PETA....I have found my calling, I love being able to inspire others to join a difficult yet rewarding industry, which not only shapes your career but your whole person. I would be lost if I didn't work in the engineering industry....it's a lifestyle! Apprenticeships open doors and avenues you never thought possible to explore!

At the start of the week, we highlighted how our apprenticeships span the entire business, not just our dealerships, offering opportunities in a variety of roles. Meet Adrianna, a Customer Service Apprentice based in our Customer Service Centre in Chesterfield! Since joining in June, she’s been developing her customer service skills and is focused on growing her expertise to support her long-term career goals. Her role involves daily interactions with customers, and she loves the variety that each conversation brings, keeping her engaged and learning every day. We asked Adrianna if she’d recommend an apprenticeship and here’s what she had to say: "I would recommend an apprenticeship to someone who enjoys working and learning about things beyond the actual job itself. An apprenticeship teaches you things that you can then apply to your job in order to deliver better customer service and to develop your own skills. It is a brilliant way to gain experience within an industry that you wish to work in without the necessary qualifications and it’s a great stepping stone in starting your career." #JCT600 #ourJCT600 #NationalApprenticeshipWeek #NAW2025 #MyApprenticeshipStory #DriveMyCareer Automotive 30% Club Drive My Career