Start your career with us! Join a Gemini ARC apprenticeship and help shape the future of the accident repair industry.
VEHICLE DAMAGE ASSESSOR APPRENTICESHIP
APPRENTICESHIP LEVEL: Level 2
APPRENTICESHIP FRAMEWORK/STANDARD: Standard
QUALIFIED JOB TITLE: Vehicle Damage Assessor (VDA)
REPORTING TO: Bodyshop Manager
MAIN PURPOSE OF ROLE:
Gemini Accident Repair Group are offering an exciting and unique opportunity for apprentice vehicle damage assessor to join their highly successful and growing organisation and attain a lifelong career. They will learn skills to appraise and compile estimates in order to repair accident damaged vehicles correctly.
MAIN TASKS
The Gemini Apprenticeship Programme provides you with an exciting and challenging opportunity to achieve formal qualifications and accreditations through extensive product training, while in full-time employment.
A Vehicle Damage Assessor will construct a comprehensive repair pack to ensure damage vehicle are repaired in a safe and structural process. To achieve this, a range of MET, Panel, Paint Administrative process, Customer Service skills will form the basis of the required breadth of knowledge.
The person be required to engage with a range of customers by many methods including direct “face to face”, email, telephone and by structured “platforms” communication.
The skills to be developed prepare the plan for the various workshop technicians to undertake all repair processes to reinstate vehicle to pre-accident condition.
The post holder will also be required to complete any other tasks deemed by the line manager as appropriate in line with the role.
PERSONAL QUALITIES
The ideal candidate will have:
- A passion for the automotive industry
- An enthusiasm to learn with an interest in development and progression
- A mature attitude with interpersonal skills
- Good team-working skills
- Good communication skills
The ideal candidate will be:
Hardworking; punctual; reliable; able to use own initiative; career minded
Practically minded with a ‘hands on’ approach to problem solving
SKILLS REQUIRED
- Excellent communication skills
- Confidence in communication via phone
- Meticulous attention to detail
- The willingness to also undertake basic duties as part of training
- Computer literate
- Due to the requirements of the role, candidates are required to either hold, or be willing to work towards achieving a full clean driving license
- Candidates must be able to travel to the workplace according to working hours
QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED
- 5 GCSE’s at grade A* to C/ 9 to 4 (or equivalent) including maths, English essential
- Science and ICT are desirable
LONG TERM COMPANY AIM FOR THE LEARNER
Upon successful completion of the apprenticeship, the role holder will progress to full-time employment with the company.
PAY AND BENEFITS:
Hours are 8:30am – 5:00pm Monday – Friday, 30-minute lunch break. (40 hours per week) over 18 the hours would be 42.5 hours a week 8:00am-5:00pm
- Competitive salary
- 30 days holiday including public holidays, plus additional days with service.
- Internal and external training
- Tablet provided
- Backpack and stationary pack provided
- First driving test paid for
- Pension contributions
- Recommend a friend technician bonus incentive
- Long service awards
- Colleague recognition scheme
- Health cash plan: claim back medical costs
- Rewards platform: high street discounts
- Cycle to work scheme
- Free on-site parking
Job Type: Full-time
Pay:
Under 18:
- Gemini First Year Apprentice Rate: £8.55
- Gemini Second Year Apprentice Rate: £9.55
- Completion of Apprenticeship: To be agreed
18 – 20yrs:
- Gemini First Year Apprentice Rate: £11.00
- Gemini Second Year Apprentice Rate: £12.00
- Completion of Apprenticeship: To be agreed
Over 21:
- Gemini First Year Apprentice Rate: £13.21
- Gemini Second Year Apprentice Rate: £14.21
- Completion of Apprenticeship: To be agreed
We pay £1 above the National Minimum Wage for 1st Year Multiskilled Apprentices and £2 above the National minimum wage for 2nd Year Multiskilled apprentices.
- 2nd year rate occurs 12 months after the Gemini Apprenticeship start date. The wage rate is also governed by the Apprentice date of birth.
- *2nd Year apprentices are entitled to 50% of the front of House bonus, if site reach this and the apprentice bonus criteria is reached. See below.
- Upon Completion, (once qualified), the VDA will be entitled to the full VDA Bonus in line with your site VDA’s, once again this is subject to the criteria set.
- There will be another pay increase upon completion of your Level 3 Multi-Skilled Apprenticeship Programme.
- Once out of the apprenticeship programme, any future wage alterations will be at the discretion of your Site Manager, these will be based on experience, ability, accreditation & qualifications.
Bonus Criteria
VDA apprentices can only be eligible for bonus if the below is met.
- Site achieves Bonus Target
- Up to date with all apprentice work set.
- Achieved all expected Behaviour compliance with no exceptions – Inc. college and hotel.
- Meeting all Gemini company behaviours both concerning site and training department expectations.
Schedule:
- Monday to Friday
Work Location: In person
OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION
The current National Minimum Wage (NMW) rate for apprentices is £4.81 per hour. This applies to 16-18 year old apprentices and those aged over 18 in the first year of their Apprenticeship. For all other apprentices the National Minimum wage appropriate to their age applies. The Minimum Wage for Apprentices applies to time spent on the job plus time spent training.
* Please note that anyone under the age of 18 will only work a maximum of 40 hours per week. Any role which exceeds these hours on advert will be amended accordingly to fall in line with the legislation
This apprenticeship is work based learning therefore most of the time you will be working at the employers address. Depending on your training you will only need to attend college in Nottingham for initial assessments, enrolment and a few other rare occasions.
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:
Please click on the link provided and email over your CV with a cover letter to training@geminiarc.co.uk
TRAINING TO BE PROVIDED
Over a two-year period, you will gain a nationally recognised qualification Level 2 Customer Service Practitioner (ST0072/AP02) and become a Vehicle Damage Assessor.
A dedicated pathway containing specialist training will run alongside the Standard to ensure they gain full knowledge of their specialist area at the appropriate level.
As a Vehicle Damage Assessor, you will have direct contact with customers, initially booking them in for work to their vehicles and then informing them of any additional repairs required. Automotive Customer Service Practitioner with a VDA pathway- Level 2 Standard.
You will need GCSEs at grades 9-3/A*-D, including English Language and maths, one of English Language or maths must be grade 9-4/A*-C. Functional Skills Level 1 can be used as equivalent to GCSE grade 3/D and Functional Skills Level 2 can be used as equivalent to GCSE grade 4/C or above.
Apprentices without Level 2 English and maths will need to achieve this level prior to taking the end-point assessment. Regular review and welfare visits from appointed assessors who will observe all evidence opportunities that occur naturally in the workplace.
Additional questions for candidates;
During the application process you will be asked the following additional question(s) below. To prepare yourself, have a think about how you might answer them.
First question
Can you identify any experience or training you have completed, relevant to the chosen Apprenticeship?
Second question
How will you be travelling to and from the workplace?
