7:20 am, June 23, 2026
Snows Motor Group has donated two cars to a school near Romsey for students who are interested in pursuing a career in the motor trade.
The vehicles were delivered to St Edward’s School in Sherfield English, which provides care and education for boys who are experiencing social, emotional and mental health difficulties.
A state-of-the-art workshop has recently opened on the school’s campus, and many pupils are keen to explore career opportunities in the automotive world.
The two teachers who run the facility, part of the school’s Practical Skills Centre, are Shaun Nicholson and Ben Allen, both of whom are also fully qualified mechanics.
The donated vehicles – a Volkswagen Passat and a Toyota Yaris – were acquired by Hampshire-based Snows as part-exchanges, traded in by customers buying newer cars at one of the company’s 50 or so dealerships across southern and south west England.
Although their best days may be behind them, the cars will prove incredibly useful for pupils developing their fledgling motor repair and maintenance skills.
Students at St Edward’s work towards qualifications awarded by the Skills and Education Group, with an Award in Motor Vehicle Studies the first step towards a potential automotive career.
Nicholson said: ‘We aim to give our students the confidence, familiarity and foundational skills they need to progress once they have left us, with employment in the motor industry the ultimate goal for those who wish to follow that path.
‘The transition for pupils in our education sector to college or an apprenticeship can be difficult so anything that helps us help bridge that gap is incredibly valuable.
‘We are enormously grateful to Snows for supporting us with the donation of two cars for our workshop. They really will make a huge difference because our students need to work on as many different models as possible, and from a variety of manufacturers.
‘We thank Snows for their support and hope to continue a mutually-beneficial relationship with the company moving forward.’
All cars acquired by Snows as part-exchanges are processed at the company’s Used Car Centre in Millbrook, Southampton, which shares its site with a Snows BYD showroom.
Handing the vehicles over to St Edward’s School were Nick Humphries, general manager for Snows BYD, and Dean Walker, aftersales manager at the Car Centre.
Humphries said: ‘We are delighted to be able to support St Edward’s School. It’s great to encourage young people who are thinking about a career in the motor trade to get involved as early as possible.
‘At Snows, we offer a variety of apprenticeships and training courses, and anyone who comes to us with some prior automotive experience will always stand a good chance of being given an opportunity.
‘The new workshop is brilliant, the teachers Shaun and Ben are clearly passionate about what they do, and we couldn’t be more pleased to be involved.’
Picture: Shaun Nicholson, third right, thanks Nick Humphries of Snows for the gift of the two cars in the picture. Also shown are Dean Walker of Snows, right; plus, from the left, Mr Humphries’ teaching colleague Ben Allen plus automotive students Anton and Harry.
