Carshalton College is extending its Motor Vehicle portfolio of courses and introducing the IMI Extended Diploma in Maintenance and Repair for Road Vehicles Level 2 (Technicians) in September 2011.

Students can enrol now on this full time course for 16 year olds looking for a career in the motor vehicle industry either in design, working as a master technician, in management or high level diagnostics. There is a gap in the market for these qualifications where graduates will have the opportunity to work for companies such as Mercedes, BMW and Jaguar.

Learners need 4 GCSE’s to enrol on the course. The course is the first step to then directly progress onto the next Level, leave to gain a job or go onto an Apprenticeship. It is ideal for learners looking to enter the motor vehicle market with 40% of the course being practical but also including modules in Science, Maths, Electrical Principals and ICT for Motor Vehicles, resulting in an equivalent to an AS level in these subjects.

The College has made a huge investment in the Motor Vehicle department for all the courses from entry level up to level 3. £20,000 has been put into purchasing modern vehicles for students to practise on, £30,000 invest in high tech diagnostics equipment and stimulators, IT training packages and the great environment in which students learn, with encouraging tutors who teach all aspects of the trade. The College plans to introduce the next level of the IMI Extended Diploma in Maintenance and Repair for Road Vehicles Level 3 (Technicians) in September 2012.

The course has had its first out turn of graduates from the Level 3 Diploma in Vehicle Maintenance and Repair this July and is proud of their 92% success rate. The graduates are leaving to employment in the motor trade at local dealerships. With over 300 learners on the range of full time and work based learning courses for 16 to 18 year olds and 19 plus, the courses are achieving the national benchmarks of success rates.

Plans for the next academic year also include increasing the level of female learners on the selection of courses. Roles in industry are ideal for women in customer focussed and management jobs. There is currently a big push from the motor vehicle industry to attract more women due to increased feedback from women customers who would prefer a female to deal with.

Based on information supplied by Maxine Alexander.