This apprenticeship standard is in the process of being revised. In the meantime, the version below remains approved for delivery. Further details of this and other occupational standards in revision are available in the revisions status report.

Overview of the role

Servicing and repairing light vehicles.

Details of standard

Occupation summary

A motor vehicle service and maintenance technician services and repairs light vehicles such as cars and vans and works either in dealerships which focus on a particular manufacturer, or in an independent garage which deals with many different makes of vehicles. The Automotive Retail Industry provides employment for over half a million employees who work for approximately 70,000 employers. It is a major contributor to the UK economy. In a large dealership the technician will typically report to the Workshop Controller, who in turn reports to the Aftersales Manager and liaises with the Service Reception. In smaller garages the technician will report directly to the owner or Garage Manager. The technician must be able to work independently but also operate as an effective team member and have good customer handling skills. They will understand how their workshop and the dealership and garage functions from a commercial perspective and identify ways in which they can work more efficiently. For example when using resources consider the use of green parts and returning used parts to the manufacturer for recycling.

Technicians working in large dealerships work with other departments, for example carrying out work for the Sales Department and ordering parts from the Parts Department, whereas apprentices in smaller independent garages may be called upon to carry out some of the function of the other departments themselves, for example managing their own delivery of parts. The technician will work on all the systems found within the vehicle. The day-to-day work ranges from replacing simple parts through to solving complex faults with the use of diagnostic methods and equipment. When carrying out these functions technicians must ensure that waste is disposed of in an environmentally conscious manner.

The tasks faced are constantly changing, driven by the introduction of ever more complex technologies and diagnostic techniques. For example the increasing number of zero emission vehicles in the motor industry. The growing complexity of today’s vehicles, and the pressure to deliver a high-quality customer experience, requires the retail automotive sector to attract and train high calibre individuals and this is reflected in the elements of the Standard described below.

Typical job titles include:

Automotive engineer Automotive technician Car maintenance technician Car mechanic Ev motor vehicle service and maintenance technician Green leaf Hybrid motor vehicle service and maintenance technician Green leaf Motor vehicle maintenance technician Motor vehicle service technician


KSBs

Knowledge

K1: How vehicle service and repair is impacted by legislative, regulatory and ethical requirements, including health and safety law and environmental procedures. Back to Duty

K2: The structure of the industry and how the business works from an operational perspective, business targets, the systems and processes that make up the efficient running of a business. Back to Duty

K3: How to develop positive working relationships and communicate effectively and how to carry out self-evaluation and improve own performance. Back to Duty

K4: The procedures for the maintenance of tools and the workshop. Back to Duty

K5: Routine servicing and inspection procedures. Back to Duty

K6: Steering and suspension geometries; electrical circuit requirements and calculations. Back to Duty

K7: Construction and operation of vehicle components and systems. Back to Duty

K8: Common fault types, causes and effects of different types of faults. Back to Duty

K9: The implications and legal requirements of fitting accessories and carrying out vehicle modifications. Back to Duty

K10: How to diagnose faults using suitable fault finding strategies. Back to Duty

K11: Construction and operation of advanced electrical, braking and suspension systems, engine and transmission systems and engine and gear calculations. Back to Duty

K12: Vehicle emissions and legal requirements. Zero emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate 2035. Back to Duty

K13: Alternative fuels and hybrid and electric systems. Back to Duty

Skills

S1: Contribute to the maintenance of a safe and efficient workshop. Segregate waste for disposal or recycling. Comply with industry environmental legislation. Back to Duty

S2: Demonstrate due regard for own safety and that of others in the workshop and minimise risk of injury and vehicle damage. Back to Duty

S3: Carry out fundamental tasks associated with removal and replacement procedures on a vehicle. Back to Duty

S4: Obtain diagnostic and repair information. Back to Duty

S5: Interpret diagnostic information and use electrical wiring diagrams to determine system serviceability. Back to Duty

S6: Use a range of diagnostic equipment. Back to Duty

S7: Follow recognised diagnostic procedures, logical diagnostic sequence and apply advanced diagnostic principles and problem-solving techniques to establish faults. Back to Duty

S8: Report faults using company procedures and recommend suitable further actions. Back to Duty

S9: Follow recognised repair procedures to complete a wide range of repairs including those which involve complex procedures, or in depth knowledge. Back to Duty

S10: Test the function of repaired and fitted components. Back to Duty

S11: Adhere to business processes and complete documentation following workplace procedures. Back to Duty

S12: Use ICT to create emails, word-process documents and carry out web based searches. Back to Duty

S13: Complete a range of services and inspect and prepare a vehicle to the required quality standard for handover to the customer. Back to Duty

Behaviours

B1: Take responsibility when required and be honest and accountable when things don’t go as planned. Back to Duty

B2: Operate as an effective team member. Back to Duty

B3: Behave in accordance with the values of the company and treat colleagues and customers with respect and courtesy. Back to Duty

B4: Build effective relationships with colleagues and customers. Back to Duty

B5: Gain trust and pay attention to colleagues and customers concerns and needs. Back to Duty

B6: Communicate effectively on a range of topics and with all sorts of different people. Back to Duty

B7: Deliver excellent results and achieve challenging goals. Back to Duty

B8: Contribute to problem solving discussions and enjoy finding solutions to own and other people’s problems. Back to Duty

B9: Suggest ways to make the business more efficient and contribute to its commercial growth. Back to Duty

B10: Constantly learn in order to improve own performance and that of the business. Back to Duty

B11: Share knowledge and skills. Back to Duty

B12: Demonstrate a passion for engineering. Back to Duty


Qualifications

English and Maths

Apprentices without level 2 English and maths will need to achieve this level prior to taking the End-Point Assessment. For those with an education, health and care plan or a legacy statement, the apprenticeship’s English and maths minimum requirement is Entry Level 3. A British Sign Language (BSL) qualification is an alternative to the English qualification for those whose primary language is BSL.


Additional details

Occupational Level:

3

Duration (months):

36

Review

this apprenticeship will be reviewed in accordance with our change request policy.

Status: Approved for delivery (available for starts)
Level: 3
Reference: ST0033
Version: 1.5
Date updated: 03/04/2024
Approved for delivery: 22 October 2015
Route: Engineering and manufacturing
Typical duration to gateway: 36 months (this does not include EPA period)
Maximum funding: £16000
LARS Code: 59
EQA Provider: Ofqual
Employers involved in creating the standard: Jaguar Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Honda, VW Group (Volkswagen Passenger Cars, Audi, SEAT, Skoda and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles), Stratstone Group, Arnold Clark Group, Cavalier garages, Quality Car Service, Jim Steele Garages, Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMIF), Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI)

Version log

Version Change detail Earliest start date Latest start date
1.5 Occupational standard and end-point assessment plan revised. 03/04/2024 Not set
1.4 Funding band revised. 26/06/2023 02/04/2024
1.3 Funding band revised. 07/05/2019 25/06/2023
1.2 Standard revised 29/05/2018 06/05/2019
1.1 End-point assessment plan revised 19/03/2018 28/05/2018
1.0 Retired 22/10/2015 18/03/2018

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