What qualifications do i need??

[SebringRS]

As above, what qualifications do i need to be a vehicle body repair man??

 

 

Tried googling it, but only came up with Car mechanic, and is kinda a long question, so it couldnt really tie down what i was tryin to ask

 

Knew a few of you on here may be in the trade, so thought i'd ask here 1st

 

 

 

Tom

[stevepeanut]

3 of my mates did it when they left school, got on a training scheme, YTS, ages ago this though. Worked for £30 and did on the job training at a garage 4 days, and 1 day study in class. After 2 years they got took on with a proper wage and job.

 

But this was 10 + years ago when we left school, probs all different now, but hopefully there will still be training on offer. Grades on paper are one thing but for body repair you cant beat hands on experience.

[Tom]

Go to a main dealer and see if you can get an apprenticeship mate. A lot our mechanics and panel beaters/sprayers all started out like that through BMW

[SebringRS]

Well got a possible job end of this year (and holidays), as this will be my last year at school

 

Starting at the place i went for work experience, the guy said i was the only work experience person they had in that actually wanted to do the work, the others couldnt be arsed

 

Im just waiting for his son to go to college, which then opens me up a place, he's ment to be going in september, so should hear from him soon if he's got a place or not

 

 

 

I've also got a smaller job working for my dad when his/if new business gets off the ground, not body work, but kinda apply's in the finishing side of that, il be doing the valeting of the cars were importing

[5hane]

Hey mate ive been doing it for the last 3 years

(got a job from my work experience )

 

Ive just finished me 1st year doing a college course, and tbh, its VERY out dated, the sprayer at my place was taught by my tutor (over 20 years ago) and the course hasnt changed a bit You will do stuff like hot shrinking and hammer and dolly'ing, which personnaly i really liked doing, beacuse i want to learn the oldskool ways of doing things (lead loading and the like) but tbh, ive NEVER used hot shrinking at work, and pannel beating with dollys and hammers is pritty dead if your working on modern stuff, its much easyer to replace a pannel than repair it.

 

The course i did also had alot of metal fabrication and sheet metal work, which is alright, but not reallyyy relevant,

 

I think ive learned more int he past few months since ive been part time (i worked for me dads mate for about 7 months as the bodyshop had no work, but some one left and i managed to get back in there) so i would reccomend trying to get a part time job in a garage, then go on to look for a part time college course, as with all jobs these days you need the paper work behind you. But i would have thought your boss would know where to look

so im doing the 2nd year in the next few weeks, although i dont know how long for as me and a work mate have got hold of a 6 car garage, so will have space for our projects, and enough to do work on other peoples should be good !

 

 

Also, although i do TONNES of stripping and fitting, i dont think i would reccomend doing the course, as you will learn pritty quickly how to get a bumper off in 5 mins, and how not to break all the dam lil clips they use

[Nicks53]

Good luck with it, wish I'd realised how much fun cars are at 15/16 rather than 22. You young buggers probably know more than I do already! By the time you're in your 20s, you'll probably be stripping cars down and fabricating new panels for even the most rust laden projects for a laugh!

[SebringRS]

Also, although i do TONNES of stripping and fitting, i dont think i would reccomend doing the course, as you will learn pritty quickly how to get a bumper off in 5 mins, and how not to break all the dam lil clips they use

 

Already done a few things on my work experience, that they thought would be "challenging", and manage to do them easily, I.e took a back bumper of a BMW 3 series in 4 minutes, and a front wing off a honda CR-V in the same

 

And they used a trim clip remover, worked for the most part, but guessed they must be a pain as the guy had a whole try devoted to spare ones

[killerkerry89]

qualifications wise you'll need national vocational qualifications (NVQs), which you can do on your own at college or get on an apprenticeship if you can. generally on apprenticeships they'll do day or block release to college where you'll do the NVQ's or City and Guilds that they want you to do and then work for the rest of the time.

how old are you dude? im 21 and applying for a bodywork apprenticeship, at the interview the guy said that one thing i had on my side was maturity because most of the applicant were around the 18/19 mark. good luck!

[evil knievel]

If you're really up for it, sign up to Remit. They are a government apprenticeship scheme, which is where I got my placement. Unless you're going to work for your dad of course, then you already have a placement... Sort of.

[zac.gfc]

http://www.apprenticeships.org.uk/

Always a couple for body repairs on there

You got to register etc and they'll send e-mails when new apprenticeships have came up in your area

[SebringRS]

qualifications wise you'll need national vocational qualifications (NVQs), which you can do on your own at college or get on an apprenticeship if you can. generally on apprenticeships they'll do day or block release to college where you'll do the NVQ's or City and Guilds that they want you to do and then work for the rest of the time.

how old are you dude? im 21 and applying for a bodywork apprenticeship, at the interview the guy said that one thing i had on my side was maturity because most of the applicant were around the 18/19 mark. good luck!

 

Im 15

 

If i apply il be around 16/17 when i do, as thats when i've finished at school