One lucky apprentice on this year’s Nationwide Apprenticeship Scheme will get the opportunity to work on Tim Harvey’s Porsche Carrera Cup Car, the one to watch in the eagerly awaited 2011 Porsche Carrera Cup GB Championship. Tim, with the support of Nationwide, wrapped up the 2010 competition at Brands Hatch last year in front of a crowd of delighted supporters from the UK’s largest fixed-site and mobile vehicle repair company.
The 450bhp Porsche 911 GT3 will be managed by leading motorsport team Motorbase Racing in Kent. However, the body work on the vehicle will be maintained by the Nationwide Repair Centre in Gravesend. The lucky apprentice who is recruited for this Nationwide Repair Centre will be guaranteed the opportunity to get their hands on this gorgeous machine which, this year, comes complete with the important ‘No. 1’ decals on the side. In addition, with the business’s policy of encouraging apprentices to move around the business for experience and understanding, other vehicle technicians on the Nationwide Apprenticeship Programme may also get the opportunity to smooth out the odd parking dent!
Tim, who is one of the most highly respected drivers and commentators in the UK, is also the Director of the British Racing Drivers' Club (BRDC) SuperStars program, which is designed to support the most promising young British drivers, so he understands how important it is to inspire and encourage young people. “Motor-racing is a team sport and I’m very proud to be involved with the team here at Nationwide. It is wonderful that young apprentices in the business get the opportunity to work on the car – hopefully it will be something they will be very proud of.”
Michael Wilmshurst, Chief Executive of Nationwide Accident Repair Services plc, had good news for all of this year’s apprentices, “Even if they don’t get the opportunity to work on the Porsche Carrera Cup at Gravesend, we guarantee that every single one will get the opportunity to join us at one of the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) rounds throughout the year – to watch Tim and the car in action.”
Tim is the most successful driver in the history of the Porsche Carrera Cup GB, having notched up 35 race wins and 105 podium finishes from 144 race starts. Tim won the title in 2008 and 2010 and has also been runner-up three times. There is no doubt that all eyes will be on him and the eye-catching Nationwide car at the start of the 2011 season.
For National Apprenticeship Week 2011, Nationwide has just announced the launch of its 2011 recruitment programme which includes a minimum of 73 vacancies covering both vehicle-technician and commercial roles. The business invests over £2m per year in its apprenticeship programme, employing up to 250 apprentices at any one time. All of the Nationwide recruits receive extensive support throughout their apprenticeship - starting with a popular residential, outward-bound course during the early stages of their apprenticeship, continual on-the-job and external training, plus the assistance of an experienced mentor to help them kick-start their careers.
The vehicle technician opportunities include paint spraying, panel beating, and strip fitting, while the commercial roles include office based functions such as parts supply, HR, finance, estimating, marketing and customer service. These roles are based throughout the UK either in the 73 Nationwide Repair Centres, with the Mobile Repairs & Motorglass teams, at the Head Office in Oxfordshire, in either of two commercial centres in Hartford and Northwich, or at the head quarters of the mobile operations in Leicester.
To find out more about the Nationwide Apprenticeship Scheme, or to apply for an apprenticeship at Nationwide, visit wefixyourcar.co.uk. Alternatively visit www.facebook.com/nationwiderepair or follow Nationwide on Twitter at www.twitter.com/wefixyourcar.
