Raytheon Teams up with Axalta Coating Systems for Its UK Apprenticeship Programme Aimed at Body Shops

May 7, 2015 | By Business Wire News

WELWYN GARDEN CITY, England

Raytheon Professional Services, a long-established company offering training solutions to government agencies and commercial organisations worldwide, has joined forces with Axalta Coating Systems in the U.K. on its Paint and Refinish Apprenticeship Programme for body shops.

Anthony Cashel, Marketing Manager for Axalta Coating Systems in the U.K. and Ireland, says, “We approached Raytheon because it has a huge amount of experience in training and also working with the automotive industry. This combination made it the ideal partner to help make the apprenticeship programme for the U.K. body shops stand out from the rest.”

The Axalta Paint and Refinish Apprenticeship Programme has been designed to help apprentices working in U.K. body shops develop valuable new skills, techniques and technology expertise that will help them to work quickly and productively.

“Apprentices in the programme are trained to use some of the latest products and equipment at our state-of-the-art training academy in Welwyn Garden City, north of London, England. They are also mentored at their place of work by dedicated Raytheon development coaches who regularly assess their work and offer help and advice. This ensures us that the apprentices are obtaining the required level of learning needed to qualify to government standards,” says Cashel.

The three-year programme gives apprentices the opportunity to achieve Level 2 and 3 full framework qualifications. In the third year they are also assessed for ATA at Senior Paint Technician Level.

“We believe the training we are providing to body shop apprentices will meet and exceed industry requirements for today’s technicians,” says Cashel. “They should then be able to fill skills gaps in the workforce, and introduce in the body shops in which they work new techniques and technology that are designed to increase productivity and to help provide a competitive edge.”

Apprentices are currently being invited to apply for the 2015 training programme. Any U.K. body shop interested in taking on an apprentice, or anyone wishing to join the training scheme, can register their interest at www.axalta.co.uk/apprenticeship-programme. Alternatively they can contact Charlotte Coombes, Administration Assistant for Axalta Coating Systems in the U.K., at +44 1707 518009. A free information pack about the programme is available on request.

For more information on Axalta visit www.axaltacoatingsystems.com.

About Axalta Coating Systems

Axalta is a leading global company focused solely on coatings and providing customers with innovative, colourful, beautiful and sustainable solutions. From light OEM vehicles, commercial vehicles and refinish applications to electric motors, buildings and pipelines, our coatings are designed to prevent corrosion, increase productivity and enable the materials we coat to last longer. With more than 145 years of experience in the coatings industry, the over 12,000 people of Axalta continue to find ways to serve our more than 120,000 customers in 130 countries better every day with the finest coatings, application systems and technology. For more information visit axaltacoatingsystems.com and follow us @axalta on Twitter and on LinkedIn.