Evesham College brings in local car club to help garages tackle skills shortages

Classic and sport cars will be showcased at Evesham College in Worcestershire as it revs up to host an open event aimed at helping garages tackle the skills shortage.

Evesham College, which is part of college group WCG, has teamed up with Worcester Car Club ahead of an upcoming apprenticeship motor vehicle open event for employers on the evening of Wednesday, June 29.

The car club, which was set up in 2018, is expecting to take over the college car park on the evening with a variety of more than 15 classic and sport cars.

Local businesses are being invited to see the cars on display ahead of the free event at Evesham College, where they will get the opportunity to speak with tutors and explore the fully-equipped motor vehicle facilities at the college.

The event will showcase the apprenticeship schemes and incentives available through the college to help local garages develop the next generation of skilled staff for their businesses.

John Colclough, Business Development Manager at WCG, said: “It’s great to be able to welcome Worcester Car Club to the open day. It looks like they will be bringing along some show-stopping vehicles which should certainly draw a crowd.

“We have some fantastic facilities at Evesham College for our motor vehicle students, and we hope that this event will help more employers in Worcestershire to see where our training is delivered.

“There are countless benefits for taking on an apprentice and it is a great avenue to developing a skilled workforce, particularly in the automotive sector.

“We are already working with garages and other motor vehicle businesses across Worcestershire to help them with staffing challenges through apprenticeships, and hope that this even will encourage more businesses to take advantage of the apprenticeship provision available at Evesham College.”

Mark Rawlings, chairman of the Worcester Car Club, added: “We have several young mechanics in our club who are very skilled individuals that restore classic cars, modify performance cars and build hot rods and specials. I know that the industry is always looking for new mechanics. Garages are after talented young people and hopefully this event at Evesham College can help them to find potential staff.

“The club launched four years ago for enthusiasts and local companies with an interest all makes and models of cars and other vehicle; it has continued to grow with 800 members on Facebook.

“We are planning to exhibit a variety of classic, sports and modified vehicles including, so far, a Dodge Viper, Porsche 911s and Caymans, Mazda RX7s and MX5s, Nissan Skylines, Audi TT RS, Citroen 2CV, Mk2 Escort, Peugeot 205 rally car, TVR Tuscans, Minis (classic and current Cooper S’s), Alfa Romeos, fast Fords, American pick-up trucks and several BMWs. Subject to the weather we may also have an amphibious vehicle.

“We host a meet once a month. This is one of the events on our calendar and we’re hoping to club comes out in force to support it.”