ABOUT auto academy
Automotive Academy was established out of a direct need for mechanics in our Auto Super Shoppe workshops.
At the Auto Super Shoppe Conference in June 2016 attended by over 50 members, the group was asked in a show of hands who would take on an apprentice in the near future. Only a few hands went up.
Why so few?
The answers ranged from:
a risk as the individuals are often straight from school and don’t always know if they want to be a mechanic,
some are not work ready,
most don’t have enough skills to be useful and cost the employer time and money in basic training,
and it’s hard to have a young person start work without tools.
The questions were then asked…
what if we screened and interviewed young people to get the best candidates?
what if we taught them soft skills like punctuality and respect for fellow workers and equipment?
what if we taught them the basic theory and practical skills so they could earn you money from day one?
what if we had them working in your workshops so that you could get to know them and their work?
What if we provided them with a basic tool kit?
Who would take on an apprentice then?
Many hands were raised, and that is how Automotive Academy started.
Our vision was to build a national training business that offers learners an efficient and affordable pathway to an automotive career.
The syllabus is a culmination of consultation with over 75 workshop owners as to what they would like an apprentice to develop in skills both soft and hard and best practice in the Automotive Industry.
The emphasis is on a balance between theory and practical and on job training. (One day each week in the course, learners work in a variety of automotive businesses). The consensus was a 12-week course so that the learner could be into employment and earning while doing their apprenticeship.
What makes our Automotive Course different?
Affordability; $9450 including GST with finance scheme available.
12 weeks, the short time to enable the learner to earn very quickly.
90% success rate with job offers for Graduates.
The balance of practical skills and theory in a modern equipped workshop. (The course consists of 24 modules 60% practical and 40% theory)
Learner tutor ratio; maximum 1:10
Direct contact with Automotive Industry to keep abreast of developments and changes in the industry.
Learners’ particular needs can be catered for; whether cultural, educational with support in literacy and numeracy, and/or equal opportunity.
Feedback from graduates has continued to be positive and inspiring and the natural course of progression for the Academy; already learner support and success-focused, was to apply to become their own PTE. This way the Academy could align their Course with an NZQA-approved unit standards and provide their learners with a level 3 industry micro-credential – a stepping stone into their Apprenticeship and higher automotive qualifications.
In addition to pre-trade automotive skills, the Automotive Academy already provide modules on work-readiness.
“Our graduates are also prepared to be valuable employees by learning the required 'soft' skills and ethics that enable them to transition successfully into the workforce.” (Auto Super Shoppe Academy)
Out of discussions with an education consultant company and NZQA representatives, The Automotive Academy began development of a unique micro-credential covering work-readiness and practical skills in the automotive industry (See accompanying Micro-credential application and Academic Plan). Feedback from graduates from the existing Academy Course also highlighted the significance of both the automotive and life skills provided.
The Automotive Academy is already an organisation that provides safe and supportive stepping stones for learners leading straight into employment and apprenticeship. With PTE status and micro-credential approval, The Automotive Academy’s newly employed graduates will have the work-readiness and foundation pre-trade skills and knowledge in addition to the NZQA-approved micro-credential.
The Automotive Academy accumulated stakeholder support, learner data, feedback and success stories; developing learner information such as Course Materials, handbooks with rules and regulations and policies and procedures. At the start of 2023, The Automotive Academy worked alongside education consultants to assist them in the development of a PTE Quality Management System transfer what they already have and do for their learners that ensures they:
a) at the Automotive Academy, and
b) develop the Automotive Academy and its existing policies and process,
To meet the NZQA requirements of a PTE (See The Automotive Academy PTE Application and all supporting evidence).
Our mission is to up-skill and develop todays learners for tomorrow’s automotive industry.