Customer Service Advisor Apprenticeship
R.T.RATE LIMITED
Essex (RM17 5QL)
Closes on Monday 30 March 2026
Posted on 12 February 2026
Contents
Summary
This Apprenticeship Programme is an exciting opportunity to kick-start your career. This apprenticeship offers a unique opportunity to learn the ins and outs of customer service and vehicle maintenance coordination within the automotive industry. Under the guidance of experienced service advisors.
- Wage
-
£15,704 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age
National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices
- Training course
- Customer service practitioner (level 2)
- Hours
-
Monday - Friday, 8.30am - 5.30pm.
However, each of our dealers will have different requirements (to be confirmed).
40 hours a week
- Start date
-
Saturday 4 April 2026
- Duration
-
1 year 2 months
- Positions available
-
1
Work
Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.
What you'll do at work
As a Vehicle Service Advisor, you will develop the ability to interpret customer and business needs using technology and resources to deliver first-class customer service. The role of a Service Advisor typically involves:
- Assist customers in scheduling service appointments, providing information on available services, and answering enquiries
- Greet customers in a professional and courteous manner, ensuring a positive service experience
- Liaise between customers and service technicians to convey vehicle concerns, service requirements, and estimated completion times
- Learn to interpret vehicle maintenance schedules, service manuals, and repair estimates to provide accurate recommendations to customers
- Coordinate with the parts department to ensure timely availability of required components for service appointments
- Keep customers informed of service progress, including any additional repairs or maintenance identified during inspections
- Handle customer complaints and concerns effectively, striving to achieve satisfactory resolutions
- Utilise computerised systems to input service orders, generate invoices, and maintain customer records accurately
- Maintain a clean and organised service reception area, ensuring a professional and welcoming atmosphere for customers
- Participate in training sessions and workshops to enhance customer service skills, product knowledge, and industry awareness
Where you'll work
Hogg Lane Service Station Hogg Lane
Grays
Essex
RM17 5QL
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
CALEX UK LTD
Training course
Customer service practitioner (level 2)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Use a range of questioning skills, including listening and responding in a way that builds rapport, determines customer needs and expectations and achieves positive engagement and delivery.
- Depending on your job role and work environment: Use appropriate verbal and non-verbal communication skills, along with summarising language during face-to-face communications; and/or
- Depending on your job role and work environment: Use appropriate communication skills, along with reinforcement techniques (to confirm understanding) during non-facing customer interactions.
- Depending on your job role and work environment: Use an appropriate ‘tone of voice’ in all communications, including written and digital, that reflect the organisation’s brand.
- Provide clear explanations and offer options in order to help customers make choices that are mutually beneficial to both the customer and your organisation.
- Be able to organise yourself, prioritise your own workload/activity and work to meet deadlines.
- Demonstrate patience and calmness.
- Show you understand the customer’s point of view.
- Use appropriate sign-posting or resolution to meet your customers needs and manage expectations.
- Maintain informative communication during service recovery.
Training schedule
- The programme typically lasts for 14-months, and you’ll achieve a nationally recognised qualification (Customer Service Practitioner Level 2)
- All of our apprentices are employed through the dealer network and attend week-long block training at our state-of-the-art training centre in Daventry
- Block training is complemented by a combination of regular coaching visits from one of our experienced coaches as well as virtual classroom sessions and E-Learning modules
- Your development is supported through your Apprenticeship journey, with your learning focused towards achieving a qualification recognised across the motor industry
- This will provide the foundation to develop your career, as there are lots of opportunities within our expanding dealer network to progress and move into new roles once you’re qualified
- Further details will be made available at a later date
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade 4)
- Maths (grade 4)
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Communication skills
- IT skills
- Attention to detail
- Organisation skills
- Customer care skills
- Problem solving skills
- Administrative skills
- Analytical skills
- Team working
- Patience
About this employer
With years of experience, Rates is one of the most passionate leading experts in Ford Vehicles. Having been in the motor trade for a long time, our expert teams understand your vehicle needs to the fullest.
Our core values are built on honesty, experience and trust so that you can be sure when buying a vehicle with us, our expert advisers will provide a hassle free and transparent service.
Our team is friendly and approachable and are always eager to assist our customers in finding the right vehicle.
The doors to our showroom are always open to visitors and customers alike, so come to our dealership in and meet the ideal Ford vehicle to suit your business needs.
We care about the practicality and comfort of your commercial vehicle just as much as you do, and that is why we understand how important it is to own the most appropriate car for you. At Rates we will provide you with professional specialist advice on a range of personalised finance options and any vehicle offers we have available.
After this apprenticeship
There are lots of opportunities within our expanding dealer network to progress and move into new roles once you’ve successfully completed the programme.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
CALEX UK LTD
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000015360.
Apply now
Closes on Monday 30 March 2026
After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.