Rolls-Royce and Bentley Specialists P & A Wood open their doors to traditional

Published: 12/10/2015

Apprenticeship Scheme - Press Release

Rolls-Royce and Bentley Specialists P & A Wood open their doors to traditional 'Indentured' style Apprenticeship Scheme.

Essex based company P & A Wood are known throughout the industry as one of the world’s finest Rolls-Royce and Bentley restoration companies and the world’s only approved dealer working with the very first 1904 motor cars through to the very latest 2015 models.

P & A Wood is pleased to announce the launch of its 'Classic Vehicle Restoration Apprenticeship'. This prestigious programme is designed to ensure that the specialist skills required to restore and maintain the world's finest Pre-War, Post-War and Modern Rolls-Royce and Bentley Motor Cars are maintained and thrive within the Company.

Mark Hews, Head of the Apprenticeship scheme at P & A Wood, said "The launch of our Apprenticeship programme will play an exciting and vital role in ensuring we maintain the skills and expertise necessary to continue the high standards of restoration and maintenance carried out here at P & A Wood."

All training will be carried out on site at the company's prestigious base in Great Dunmow, Essex, where 8 new apprentices will be given the opportunity to work with world class engineers on the world's finest vehicles.

P & A Wood has created a dedicated on-site Training Centre offering both classroom and workshop – this is now a dedicated facility recognised through North London Garages’ (NLG) approved IMI status as a satellite centre. The Classic Vehicle Restoration Qualification has been developed by IMI in association with the FBHVC (Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs) and is available at Levels 2 and 3 - the programme will be delivered under the expert supervision of NLG. 

The qualification, which would usually be a 3 year undertaking, has been adapted to meet the strict high standards and requirements of P & A Wood and will now take 4 years to complete. The aim is to create the highest standard of young engineers that this industry has seen since the old 'Indentured' style apprenticeships were delivered by Rolls-Royce and Bentley.

P & A Wood consider having skilled and enthusiastic young people within the business to be an essential requirement for securing P & A Wood’s long term future.

John Pitchforth, Business Development Director at North London Garages, said “We are very excited to be working with P & A Wood to ensure that the next generation of restoration technicians are trained to the highest standards and ensure traditional skills are passed on into the future. Our delivery team, headed by Lead Tutor John Passfield, are looking forward to delivering a ‘World Class’ Apprenticeship Programme and leading the development and delivery of this new and exciting qualification".