11:10 am, December 11, 2018
VERTU Motors has welcomed its second group of degree-level apprentices to the business, following a successful first-year programme which launched in 2017.
A group of 13 people have now started their apprenticeship, which delivers a BA in business leadership and management degree as part of a structured apprenticeship training programme. This is an increase from the 10 students who started last year who are now beginning their second year.
Vertu’s degree-level apprenticeship programme offers talented people the chance to gain a degree while earning a salary of £18,000 and holding a full-time permanent role within the business. The course is one of the first motor retail industry degree-level apprenticeships.
In partnership with Northumbria University, Vertu Motors, the UK’s sixth largest motor retailer, will fund £27,000-worth of tuition fees over the 3.5-year course, meaning the apprentices leave university debt-free and with a full-time job and great further career opportunities within the UK-wide business.
Quick progress
Students will spend the majority of the course in placements at dealerships across the Vertu Motors group, with the prospect of quickly progressing into managerial roles.
In addition to receiving a BA Honours degree, the programme of study will also offer the opportunity to achieve ‘chartered manager’ status from Northumbria University, one of the top 50 universities in the UK.
Robert Forrester, chief executive of Vertu Motors, said: ‘The degree-level apprenticeship is a fantastic opportunity to gain a respected degree, debt-free in a dynamic industry. The programme was hugely successful last year and we are thrilled to welcome our new intake.
‘We are always keen to take on talented, enthusiastic people who fit with our values, and our degree-level apprenticeship is not just something for school-leavers to consider. This year we have welcomed a strong mix of both men and women of different ages from a variety of backgrounds. I am excited to see how their careers progress over the next couple of years.’
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