Apprentice Body Repair Technician (Leicester)
FORD & SLATER LIMITED
Leicester (LE3 2JG)
Closes on Monday 10 November 2025
Posted on 23 September 2025
Contents
Summary
We are looking for an Apprentice Body Repair Technician to join our team in Leicester. We are seeking eager, enthusiastic people with a thirst for knowledge and the desire to learn and develop their skills within our workshop. This would be an ideal role for someone who wants to start their career journey in the automotive industry.
- Wage
-
£15,311.40 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age
National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices
Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
Salary increase on yearly increments for the duration of the apprenticeship.
- Training course
- Vehicle damage panel technician (level 3)
- Hours
-
Monday - Friday approx. 8.00am - 4.30pm with one early finish (39 hours) with the possibility of occasional weekend working and overtime.
39 hours a week
- Start date
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Monday 1 December 2025
- Duration
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2 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
As an apprentice at Ford & Slater you will be fully supported with all of the training you require to become a fully qualified Body Repair Technician.
You will spend 2 years training alongside an experienced mentor at the Leicester dealership as well as attending the Skillnet training facility on a weeks block release 4-5 times a year in Milton Keynes. Accommodation and travel will be provided during block release.
At the end of the apprenticeship, you will have earned a Level 3 standard in Vehicle Damage Repair and will be employed by us as a qualified technician with the opportunity to progress in a variety of areas within the business.
Roles and Responsibilities:
- Assist in carrying out body repairs on HGVs, including panel replacement, dent removal, and surface preparation
- Support senior technicians with welding, fabrication, and use of workshop tools and equipment
- Learn to prepare vehicles for painting, ensuring high standards of finish and safety
- Maintain a clean, safe, and organised workshop environment, following health & safety procedures
- Develop knowledge and skills through hands-on experience and training to progress towards full technician status
Where you'll work
Hazel Drive
Narborough Road South
Leicester
LE3 2JG
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
SKILLNET LIMITED
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
Training is delivered at the Skillnet Body Repair Training Facility in Milton Keynes:
- RWC - Skillnet Milton Keynes, 6 Vincent Avenue, Crownhill Business Park, Milton Keynes, MK8 0AB
- Training blocks are one weeks in duration, four to five times a year
- Training, accomodation, travel and meal costs coverd by the company while an apprentice is away on training
More training information
Level 3 Accident Repair Technician Apprenticeship Standard
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
- Problem solving skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Initiative
- Patience
- Physical fitness
Other requirements
Key Skills and Experience: • GCSE or equivalent in English Language and Maths (Grace C/4 or above) • Enthusiastic • Strong communication skills • Good time management and attention to detail • Organisation skills • Able to problem solve • Able to work under instruction and as part of a team • Strong focus on Health and safety
About this employer
Ford & Slater is one of the UK’s largest DAF Truck dealer groups with 16 locations across the UK employing over 800 staff whilst remaining a family run business. Specialising in the maintenance and repair of DAF Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs), with a rich history and a commitment to excellence, Ford & Slater is the ideal place to launch a rewarding career in the heavy vehicle industry.
https://www.fordandslater.co.uk/about-us/ford-and-slater-apprentice-programme/ (opens in new tab)
After this apprenticeship
- Body Repair Technician with oppotunities to progress into a number of roles within the company
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
FORD & SLATER LIMITED
Lee Sursham
lsursham@fordandslater.co.uk
07710165093
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000343398.
Apply now
Closes on Monday 10 November 2025
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