A CHESTER motor company which is pioneering a new national apprenticeship scheme in 2013 has just taken on its first five young recruits.

ACF Car Finance of Chester Business Park says the formal training programme breaks new ground in preparing ambitious starters for careers in the motor trade.

Although apprentices will start on the showroom floor, the scheme can help them fast-track to management roles with no upper limit to what they can achieve.

The five new teenage intakes have now embarked on the 12-month programme which will see them emerge at the other end with VCQ/NVQ Level 2 qualifications.

The apprenticeship scheme has been specially structured for the UK-wide company by national training provider Remit, and is awarded by the Institute of the Motor Industry.

Course content ranges from understanding the dynamics of the vehicle supply chain to dealing with sales enquiries, presenting vehicles, conducting demonstration drives and handing over the car.

ACF Car Finance sales and marketing director Norman Beaumont says the apprenticeship will allow trainees to earn as they learn, and get valuable on-the-job experience.

“The premise of this programme is to open up opportunities for people keen to excel, and to give them the training and encouragement they need to drive their careers forward,” he said.

“With youth unemployment in Britain at around the one million mark, we are keen to make it known that this industry holds out some very exciting prospects for those willing to learn.

“We want to fuel our growth by recruiting not just time-served personnel, but also those who can be trained in a sector which has seen considerable changes in recent years.”

At the end of their apprenticeship, candidates may then be offered an option to progress to a Level 3 qualification – equivalent to at least two A-levels.

ACF Car Finance is the retail subsidiary of The Funding Corporation of Chester, and sells used cars via a national network of vehicle showrooms where the apprentices will receive their training.