Apprenticeship Programmes

Service Technician

The job that ensures a Volvo Car performs as it should, every time.
Every Volvo Car needs to be maintained regularly. Sometimes they may need extra attention and will need to be repaired – quickly, right first time and to a highest standard.

Ensuring that all these vehicles are safe and dependable is the responsibility of qualified Volvo Service Technicians. It’s a very important job because our customers rely on their vehicles for their work as well as for their private lives.

To be employed as a service technician with Volvo Cars you need to be highly skilled. You could, for example, be carrying out essential service and maintenance work, using high-tech diagnostic equipment to identify any faults, repairing worn components or replacing tyres or exhausts. Whatever you do, though, you need to work to the highest standards because our customers other peoples’ lives depend on your work.

What will you do?

A Volvo apprentice service technician will perform a wide range of tasks, some of which are very specialised. For example, the opportunity to specialise in the electrics and electronics of a Volvo Car as an auto electrician - which is becoming even more important as the technology in our vehicles, becomes more advanced. Other aspects can involve carrying out the replacement of certain vehicle parts, replacing worn tyres and check wheel balance and alignment.

Although the levels of skill may vary, they are all jobs which require concentrated, physical activity.

In some cases you may be relying on your in-depth knowledge of a vehicle and its systems. But you will also use high-tech equipment to find out what’s wrong with the vehicle and then use a range of specialised tools to remove, replace or repair faulty or worn components.

Volvo Dealerships have a great working atmosphere.. People work by themselves but are also part of an important team. And there are equal opportunities for males and females.

Skills and talents

To be a Volvo Cars apprentice service technician, you need to be a problem solver. You will also need to be patient because sometimes the answers to a vehicle problem won’t be obvious. You also must have an eye for detail, be very safety conscious and be methodical in the way you work - even when if you are under pressure and working to a tight deadline.

It is important to be comfortable with the use of information technology; this is increasingly a high-tech industry, where the skills needed are becoming ever more advanced. Computer systems and technology are now at the heart of almost every running part of a vehicle. 

All this adds up to a working life that is challenging, rewarding and far from being boring or routine!

Getting started

To begin this career you need to be trained and gain qualifications - a Volvo service technician apprenticeship is a great way to get you started. 

Your apprenticeship combines work experience with a Volvo Cars dealer and training with Volvo Cars UK at our Dealer Training & Development Centre in Daventry, Northamptonshire.

...And once you’ve started you will find that, as you become qualified and experienced, there are plenty of opportunities to develop your career by moving into supervision, management, training or other related areas such as Volvo Cars Master Technician status. This means there’s a world of opportunities ahead of you.

Service Advisor

The job that drives the whole customer experience.

Many people are great at communication and dealing with people. If you can do this in a fast moving and challenging environment as well, then a job in customer service as a Volvo apprentice service advisor may be is the job for you. 

It’s a dynamic job within a Volvo dealer the whole business because it’s concerned with making sure the customer is dealt with in a speedy and professional manner. If it is not done efficiently – and right first time - then the customer may not return for future business or buy another Volvo vehicle from our range. 

The Volvo apprentice service advisor role is all about understanding both the vehicle and customer needs, interpreting customer instructions and relaying this information through to the aftersales department effectively.

What will you do?

The main tasks as a Volvo apprentice service advisor are
• Advising your customers on vehicle needs, time for repair and booking loan vehicles
• Booking in vehicles – workshop loading and parts ordering
• Controlling and organising work for the workshop staff and parts department
• Preparing accurate invoices
• Customer vehicle handover – after the work is done you will have to explain work carried out and the costs involved In fact, the job is a combination of administration, people-management and communications all within the same role. Most of this work is now done through extensive use of information technology in order to keep track of how a customer’s vehicle is are progressing through the dealership, how long the repair work is likely to take and preparing the car for delivery and handover.

Skills and talents

A Volvo apprentice service advisor does not work directly on vehicles, t however they need a very good knowledge of them. They must be able to understand basic mechanical operation along with the ability to understand basic diagnostics.

To be successful as an apprentice service advisor you need to be very well organised and be able to cope with a large amount of detailed information. You will need excellent communication skills and have the ability to pass on information in a detailed manner to customers and your colleagues. 

It is important to be comfortable with the use of information technology because that is where customer details are stored, along with the workshop management system.

Getting started

To begin a career as a Volvo apprentice service advisor you need to be trained and gain qualifications. You can start with an Apprenticeship with Volvo Cars, this qualification will give you the ability to be able to go on and develop the other specific knowledge and skills you need in today’s retail motor industry.
Your apprenticeship combines work experience with a Volvo Cars dealer and training with Volvo Cars UK at our Dealer Training & Development Centre in Daventry, Northamptonshire.

…And once you’ve started you will find that, as you become qualified and more experienced, there are plenty of opportunities to develop your career by moving into supervision and aftersales management. This means there’s a world of opportunities ahead of you. 

Volvo Parts Advisor

The job that’s well stocked with career opportunities
There are lots of people who are fascinated by vehicles but who don’t necessarily feel they would enjoy the ‘hands-on’ technical aspects but would like to be involved in fast moving atmosphere of the automotive industry.

If that sounds like you then take a look at being a Volvo apprentice parts advisor. It’s a vital job within the overall business because it’s concerned with making sure the right parts and components are available at the time and place they are needed. If it is not done efficiently - because the parts can’t be found or have not been ordered in time - then vehicles may be out of action for much longer than necessary. 

So the Volvo apprentice parts advisor is the person everyone else in the workshop depends upon.

What will you do?

• Consult, advise and sell vehicle parts, components and accessories to your customers
• Take orders and source the parts required by your colleagues
• Control and organise the storage of large amounts of stock
• Finding parts and components when they are ordered
• Ordering fresh stock, when required from Volvo and other suppliers

In summary, this job is a combination of administration, stores-management and sales all within the same role. In a Volvo dealership it is vital that parts are stored safely, conveniently and methodically so that they can be found at a moment’s notice.

It is also essential that orders for replacement stock are made to ensure that you are never running too short. Most of this work is now done through extensive use of information technology in order to keep track of what is available, where it is located and in what quantities.

Skills and talents

A Volvo apprentice parts advisor does not work directly on vehicles but they need a very good knowledge of them. They must be able to recognise instantly hundreds of different parts and components and understand their place in the vehicle. To be successful as a Volvo apprentice parts advisor you need to be very well organised and be able to cope with a large amount of detailed information and figures.

It is essential to be comfortable with the use of information technology because that is, probably, the Volvo apprentice parts advisor’s single most important tool. And although you will not work directly on the engine or other parts of the vehicle, you will need to understand basic mechanics and electrics to play your part in the motor industry in which you operate. Finally, excellent communication skills are essential both in dealing with customers and with your colleagues.

Getting started

To begin a career as a Volvo apprentice parts advisor you need to be trained and gain qualifications. You can start with an Apprenticeship with Volvo Cars.
Your apprenticeship combines work experience with a Volvo Cars dealer and training with Volvo Cars UK at our Dealer Training & Development Centre in Daventry, Northamptonshire.

...And once you’ve started you will find that, as you become qualified and more experienced, there are plenty of opportunities to develop your career by moving into supervision and management. This means there’s a world of opportunities ahead of you.

Volvo Body Repair or Paint Technician

The job that deals with the knocks and scrapes of vehicle ownership
Would you be good at restoring a cars to it’s original state following an accidents? If so, then a career as a vehicle body repair or paint technician might be right up your street.

Thousands of vehicles are involved in scrapes each day of the week and many drivers are likely to need their car repaired at least once. So there is no shortage of work to be done. 

A job as a in Volvo apprentice vehicle body repair or paint technician is to keep the customer happy by returning their vehicle with the dents removed, the paint work restored and the electrics and mechanical parts in sound working order.

Repair and refinishing is not a single skill. Go to your local Volvo Cars Body Repair Shop and you will find a number of different experts covering vehicle body repair, body refinishing, mechanical, electrical and trim; and vehicle valeting.

All the specialists will be working hard and focused on their particular task. What they all have in common is the need to pay a massive amount of attention to detail.
As a Volvo apprentice vehicle body repair technician you could be fill a hole so that no-one could tell it was ever there. Or as a paint technician you will need to match a paint colour perfectly. And you need to be able to solve unique problems. Every accident is different. You must produce the perfect solution for that particular vehicle.

That’s why people doing these jobs say they like the fact that they take an accident damaged vehicle from the customer and return it in good shape. They enjoy the sense of a job ‘well done’ and the daily challenges of dealing with the unpredictable. They also like being part of a team but enjoy their own personal responsibilities.

Skills and talents

To do one of these jobs well you have to be good with your hands but also good at thinking how to solve practical challenges. You will use specialist equipment - for welding, straightening vehicle bodies, paint spraying or cleaning - and you need to be very safety conscious both for yourself, your workmates and the customer. You may need other talents too - such as a good eye for colour and shape. It’s a job where you will use highly technical equipment and will need to be very precise in your work. There are equal opportunities for males and females and many women are working successfully in this field.

Getting started

To begin a career in Volvo apprentice body repair or paint technician you need to be trained and gain qualifications.

These qualifications will help you develop the knowledge and skills you need to repair and refinish damaged vehicles in today’s retail motor industry. This is especially true where you are repairing damage to electrical and mechanical components which are becoming more advanced as the industry develops new technologies and continuously improves passenger safety.

Your apprenticeship combines work experience with a Volvo Cars accident repair centre and training with Volvo Cars UK approved partners in training.
...And once you’ve started you will find that, as you become qualified and experienced, there are plenty of opportunities to develop your career by moving into supervision, management, training or other related areas such as insurance work. This means there’s a world of opportunities ahead of you with Volvo Cars Apprenticeships.

Volvo Dealership Assistant

The job that provides support to each department within a thriving dealership
A Volvo dealership assistant apprentice will be expected to support individuals and teams from every department for smoother running of the business.

The role involves the handling of day-to-day tasks in an office and make sure things run smoothly – 97% of employers say that effective administration is essential to their business, so a Volvo dealership assistant apprentice have a crucial job.

The term ‘administration’ covers roles that involve organising people and resources, including, executive assistants, secretaries, administration assistants, data entry clerks and office juniors. Without them, information would be hard to find, meetings would be missed and businesses would be less productive.

One of the great things about this apprenticeship is that you can work almost anywhere within a Volvo dealership. With your transferable skills, you could be working in a accounts department or within the sales and marketing team. Administration roles are also an excellent starting point to move into management once you have more experience.

Skills and talents

As a Volvo dealership assistant apprentice, your exact duties will depend on your employer. It’s likely that you’ll be working with a team or member of staff to handle various tasks. You may be typing up board meeting documents, putting financial information together in spreadsheets, sending the daily post, or faxing and photocopying confidential documents. This sort of work requires a strong sense of responsibility, accuracy and attention to detail.

Some of the skills required are:
• Well organised – of oneself and potentially others you work with
• Excellent communication skills
• Skilled with Information Technology

Getting started

To begin a career as a Volvo dealership assistant apprentice you need to be trained and gain qualifications.

These qualifications will help you develop the knowledge and skills you will need to be an effective Volvo dealership assistant apprentice.

Your apprenticeship combines work experience with a Volvo Cars accident repair centre and training with Volvo Cars UK approved partners in training.

...And once you’ve started you will find that, as you become qualified and experienced, there are plenty of opportunities to develop your career by moving into supervision, management, training or other related areas such as insurance work. This means there’s a world of opportunities ahead of you with Volvo Cars Apprenticeships.

Volvo Sales Support Apprentice

The support role that improves the efficiency of the Sales Department
A Volvo sales support apprentice has an important role to play in enhancing the customer experience throughout their sales journey; supporting the sales team with product presentations (pre & post-handover) and efficient customer communications.

Skills and talents 

As a Volvo sales support apprentice, you’ll be working closely with the whole sales team. The role has been designed around developing a flexible role within the sales team which increases the efficiency of the department.

You may be hosting customers in the showroom, supporting the sales team with product presentations, taking inbound sales enquiries, or producing sales performance reports.

This sort of work requires a strong customer focus, confidence in communication and attention to detail.

Some of the skills required are:
• Well organised – of oneself and potentially others you work with
• A real passion for delivering excellent customer experiences
• Excellent communication skills
• Skilled with Information Technology

Getting started

To begin a career in Volvo sales you need to be trained and gain qualifications. You can start with an Apprenticeship with Volvo Cars.

Your apprenticeship combines work experience with a Volvo Cars dealer and training with Volvo Cars UK at our Dealer Training & Development Centre in Daventry, Northamptonshire.

...And once you’ve started you will find that, as you become qualified and more experienced, there are plenty of opportunities to develop your career by moving into a sales consultant or sales administration role and then onto supervision and management. This means there’s a world of opportunities ahead of you.