Vehicle Damage Panel Technician Apprentice
RPM BODY SHOP LTD
EASTBOURNE (BN23 6PE)
Closes in 30 days (Thursday 18 September 2025 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 18 August 2025
Contents
Summary
The successful apprentice will work alongside a mentor to repair damaged vehicles. The role will involve replacing and repairing damaged panels which can include panel reshaping, wielding, bonding, and mechanical fixing. You will be based in Eastbourne and day release will be from East Sussex College’s Eastbourne Campus.
- Wage
-
£15,704 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age
National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices
- Training course
- Vehicle damage panel technician (level 3)
- Hours
-
Monday - Friday. Times to be confirmed.
40 hours a week
- Start date
-
Monday 22 September 2025
- Duration
-
3 years
- 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
Some of the key tasks will include, but are not limited to:
- Removal, repair and replacement of vehicle body panels to vehicle manufacturer specification
- Using repair tools
- Learning to use different vehicle technology
- Using jigs, resistance welding equipment, riveting and bonding tools
- Motor vehicle chassis and body alignment
- Learning the key process for vehicle panel repair such as Welding utilising either Tungsten,
- Inert Gas (TIG) and Metal, Inert Gas (MIG) and brazing along with spot welding, riveting utilising
- Self-piercing rivets and utilising panel adhesive bonding as specified by the manufacturer
- Follow safety precautions
- Interpret relevant technical data and methods to make sure that any joints are in line with vehicle manufacturer specification and the vehicle / body panels are aligned correctly
- Learning to identify where panels are beyond repair
- Learning to detect and rectify faults
- Work alongside a mentor and a team
- The apprenticeship may start before the closing date
Where you'll work
UNIT 3
BIRCH INDUSTRIAL ESTATE
EASTBOURNE
BN23 6PE
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
EAST SUSSEX COLLEGE GROUP
Training course
Vehicle damage panel technician (level 3)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Ability to undertake appropriate job preparation prior to commencing repair, including safety precautions, panel preparation and body measurements.
- Ability to identify the material used in the construction to enable the correct joining techniques and manufacturer specifications to be adhered to.
- Ability to interpret relevant technical data and methods to make sure that any joints are in line with vehicle manufacturer specification and the vehicle/body panels are aligned correctly
- Ability to identify and understand the correct joining technology, e.g. when to use resistance spot welding or mig brazing or bonding.
- Ability to remove, repair and replace vehicle body panels and components of the vehicle safely and efficiently
- Ability to identify and operate the correct repair tools, equipment and devices used in the process, panel pulling systems, jig and alignment tools, spot welders, brazing tools.
- Ability to identify and communicate supplementary damage such as panels that were deemed to be reparable but once worked on were found to be beyond repair along with damage that could not be established on original inspection.
- Ability to detect and rectify faults within a vehicles structure that’s integral to its safety
Training schedule
Level 3 Vehicle Damage Panel Technician Apprenticeship Standard:
- 6 of your contracted working hours per week will be spent on training
- Training will be covered by day release, as well as being in the workplace
- Common forms of training include completing written assignments, meetings with your assessor, being mentored and shadowing other members of staff
- Throughout your apprenticeship you will be required to keep an off-the-job training log for any training that you complete
- You will complete the Level 3 Vehicle Damage Panel Technician standard, for which you will receive either a grade Pass or Distinction
- In addition if you don't have maths and English qualifications at grade C/4/Level 2 or equivalent you will be required to undertake Functional Skills alongside the apprenticeship, at Level 2 if you are 16-18.
- Once per week, term time only you will be required to attend East Sussex College's, Eastbourne campus, for day-release
- In the college holidays you will go to the employer's instead unless you have booked Annual Leave
Requirements
Desirable qualifications
GCSE in:
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Communication skills
- Attention to detail
- Team working
- Work independently
- Time keeping
- Reliability
- Honesty
- Can follow instructions
Other requirements
Day release will be from East Sussex College, one day per week, located at the Eastbourne Campus, located in Hampden Park. You will have to travel to the campus, once a week, term time only. The college is about a ten minute walk from the train station. The start date my vary.
About this employer
At RPM Body Shop, we pride ourselves on the quality of our repair work. We undertake insurance work with all the major insurance companies and also carry out non-fault accident management. We undertake a variety of repairs including taking care of dents, scratches, stone chips, smart repairs and accident damage repairs. We have experience of working on cars with various makes and models and can undertake car modifications. Modifications are largely in paint and bodywork.
After this apprenticeship
- Once qualified, further advanced training within your discipline may be offered
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
EAST SUSSEX COLLEGE GROUP
Katie Parris
Katie.parris@escg.ac.uk
03030039871
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000337765.
Apply now
Closes in 30 days (Thursday 18 September 2025 at 11:59pm)
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