“The motor trade is looked at as a male dominated industry, but this is no longer the case.”
Cars have always been a big part of my life. My family run a scrap yard, so I grew up around cars and spent loads of time helping my dad fix things and learning hands on.
At the age of twelve, I was racing on oval circuits, which gave me even more experience and definitely sparked my competitive side. I then spent two years at a motorsport college, which gave me a good technical base before I started my apprenticeship. I joined Dick Lovett BMW Bristol in 2019 as an Apprentice Vehicle Technician and since then I’ve kept pushing myself to learn and progress.
The training academy is definitely a highlight of my job, the facilities are brilliant, and the trainers are so supportive, which really helps build confidence in the knowledge I use back in the workshop.
I also love that no two days are the same. There’s always something new to figure out, whether it’s a challenging fault, new technology, or a job I haven’t done before. That variety makes the work interesting and rewarding. On top of that, the job offers loads of chances to progress, and I work with a great team who always encourage me. The environment is really motivating and interesting.
From going to work with my Dad in the scrap yard I was hands on with cars from a really young age, I’d always be told if I could fit a battery or a wheel to get it running I could go drive them around the fields with my cousins. This helped me build up transferable mechanical skills early.
Racing from age twelve taught me a lot about how vehicles perform under pressure and then motorsport college gave me a strong technical foundation before I began my apprenticeship.
On top of that, working on my own project cars gave me extra technical knowledge, especially when modifying and trying out new ideas, which I’ve carried into my role as a technician.
The motor trade is looked at as a male dominated industry, but this is no longer the case. There are currently four female technicians/apprentices at my dealership alone and so many other females in the network.
A lot of people also think being a technician is just physical work but there’s way more to it. It’s just as much about problem solving and diagnostics, especially with how quickly vehicle technology is changing. You’ve got to keep learning all the time, and that’s what keeps it so interesting.
My advice to someone considering joining automotive as a career is absolutely go for it! It can feel a bit daunting at first, but it’s the best thing I’ve done for my career.
You don’t need any experience at all to start an apprenticeship, just passion and the want to learn. If you put the effort in there are so many opportunities out there. My apprenticeship has opened doors I never expected, from attending amazing training facilities, helping the BMW BTCC team for the weekend to winning awards with BMW and Apprentice of the Year at the IMI. It’s such a rewarding career if you’re willing to push yourself.
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