Some 213 eager applicants experienced car workshops of the future at Audi Ireland’s Advanced Apprenticeship open evenings, held at Audi dealerships across the country recently.
The open evenings took place ahead of the commencement of Audi Ireland’s new Advanced Apprenticeship scheme, which fast-tracks apprentice mechanics to full Audi certification in four years rather than the usual seven.
Apprentices will receive Audi brand training at the same time as their general workshop training and college studies, rather than after. In the first few days of the scheme’s announcement, more than 1,500 applicants registered their interest online.
Commenting, Steven Stein, head of aftersales at Audi Ireland, said: “The sheer volume of applicants in the first week of the Audi Advanced Apprenticeship scheme and the attendance numbers at our open evening demonstrate not only the attractiveness of Audi’s premium brand, but the growing allure of the automotive industry and alternative routes for obtaining education and qualifications.
“The industry has transformed radically and in exciting ways over the past two decades, thanks mostly to new advancements in automotive technology, like GPS, infotainment, telecoms and the Internet of Things. Audi vehicles are at the cutting edge of these advancements, including ground-breaking piloted driving technology. We look forward to interviewing applicants across Ireland over the coming months.”
Approximately 30 Audi apprentices will be accepted onto the scheme. Successful applicants will receive complimentary high-quality workwear at the commencement of the scheme and free Snap-on branded toolsets as they complete particular modules, totalling approximately €6,000.
After completion of the Audi Advanced Apprenticeship, the new Audi-certified technicians will have clear paths to specialist roles within the Audi Ireland network, such as service advisor, parts advisor, diagnostic technician, and master technician.
Applications for the 2016 programme are now closed; applications for the next programme will begin in early 2017. For more information, visit www.audiapprenticeship.ie
