A new apprenticeship scheme offering training in automotive collision repair has been given the thumbs up by local businesses.

AutoRaise is the first-of-its-kind at Barking and Dagenham College, where those aged 23 or under can become qualified within two years.

Apprentices will gain a diploma in multi-skilled collision repair and three Automotive Technician Accreditations (ATAs) in three key disclipines - mechanical, electrical, and trim, panel and paint.

John Thatcher, project manager at the college, explained: “AutoRaise is an employer-focused programme, publicly funded to support the collision repair industry’s business needs.”

The commercial director of Fix Auto Dagenham, Paul Cunningham, welcomed the announcement.

He said: “There is no other programme like this for bodyshops today and the opportunity to put our apprentices through the training, knowing they can qualify in two years is phenomenal.”

The college is offering a limited number of free-of-charge apprenticeship places, which will start mid-September with further intakes during the year.

For further information, call 020 3667 0333, text keyword AutoRaise and your full name to 88020 or visit www.bdc.ac.uk.