Body Repair

Restoration technicians specialise in restoring badly damaged vehicles to a well presented and usable state. Some technicians may specialise in restoring vintage vehicles. Working as a specialist within a team, the duties of a restoration technician may include:

• Preparing the vehicle and assembling body panels
• Diagnosing and completing repairs
• Re-building engines and chassis
• Evaluating vehicles that need restoring and estimating time and cost implications

As a restoration technician you will need to demonstrate:

• Strong communication skills
• The ability to work alone and as part of a team
• The ability to maintain quality under pressure
• An awareness of safety procedures
• The ability to use specialist equipment
• An ability to follow written and verbal instructions
• Good manual skills
• A good eye for detail and colour

You will need to have a good understanding of vehicle body and repair operations; you will be expected to be trained in body and paint operations in refinishing at level 2 for this level of work. There are a range of qualifications such as N/SVQs and VRQs in vehicle body and paint operations in refinishing.  You will also need to have a good understanding of automotive systems and the specific materials required for the restoration process.

Qualifications

IMI Awards

IMI Level 2 Diploma in Classic Vehicle Restoration Principles

Level 2 Diploma in Vehicle Accident Body Repair Principles (VRQ)

City & Guilds

Vehicle Accident Repair (VRQs) (4291)

Please note: These figures are meant as a guide only and may vary from employer to employer and may be dependent on the geographical area.

You will normally work from 8am to 5pm Monday to Friday; however, you may be able to work overtime in the evenings and at weekends. You will usually work indoors in workshops or bodyshops and will be expected to wear safety clothing when using specialised equipment and carrying out tasks such as welding.

Salary:

• As a trainee restoration technician you may earn between £7,000-£13,000 per year
• Once you are qualified you may expect to earn £19,000 or more
• Experienced motor vehicle professionals can earn up to £30,000

There may be opportunities for shift and overtime pay depending on your employer. You may also be eligible for holiday entitlement, company pension and private healthcare schemes.

There are several ways of starting your career as a restoration technician:

• Train at work, in a dedicated training facility managed by the employer; many manufacturers offer apprenticeship programmes that involve training at specially equipped centres
• Study on day release at local colleges or with training providers whilst in employment
• Attend college, or a private training provider who will organise work placements
• Study full time at college with practical exercises as well as classroom work

You may be considered for this job via an apprentice/traineeship scheme. Apprentice/traineeship schemes may vary from employer to employer but they will typically work towards an N/SVQ and will be on-the-job training. To do this you may need GCSEs/Standard Grades in English, Maths, Science and IT or appropriate equivalents. For further information on apprentice/traineeships in England please visit www.apprenticeships.org.uk, for Wales please visit www.careerswales.com for Northern Ireland please visit www.nidirect.gov.uk/careers and for Scotland please visit www.skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk

 

Apprenticeships

Vehicle Body and Paint Operations (Refinishing/Body Repair) Apprenticeship Level 2   This Apprenticeship is about patching up damaged vehicles. From a scratched door to a dented bumper, accidents can affect a car’s bodywork, mechanical parts and paint job.

Sorry, there are no relevant jobs on the system at this time