Apprentice Panel Technician

Summary

Join our team as a Vehicle Damage Panel Technician! Work in our workshop removing and replacing vehicle body panels, ensuring high-quality repairs on cars and light commercial vehicles. Perfect for those passionate about cars and starting a career in the automotive industry.

Wage

£16,224 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 to Thursday 8:15am- 17:00pm Friday 8am- 17:00pm Lunch Break: 1 hour

39 hours a week

Start date

Monday 27 July 2026

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

This is an excellent opportunity to work as part of a highly skilled team that is committed to quality. You will train to become a qualified Vehicle Damage Panel Technician; the successful candidate can expect a high-quality training package with excellent career prospects. You will work independently and as part of a team following a defined process, using the skills to correctly identify the different body panel types and have the ability to use the correct repair tools to carry out the work to the highest possible standard.

You will receive training and support throughout your qualification the successful candidate will learn to remove, repair and replace vehicle body panels and components of the vehicle safely and efficiently, using a variety of body repair panel tools, equipment and devices. Duties to include:

• Assessing a vehicle to establish the extent of damage
• Based on the initial assessment, deciding whether to repair or replace bodywork
• Removing damaged panels
• Refitting new/repaired panels
• Repairing damaged bodywork using traditional dolly and hammer or more modern techniques
• Repairing small dents, holes or corroded areas using a compound filler

A certain amount of administration and customer interaction is also required:

• Keeping a record of work carried out and time taken.
• Liaising with the customer or insurance company
• Providing quotations and estimations

Where you'll work

Unit 201
Longmead Road, Emersons Green
Bristol
BS16 7FG

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

Training provider

S & B AUTOMOTIVE ACADEMY LIMITED

Training course

Vehicle damage panel technician (level 3)

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

The apprenticeship training is delivered via weekly block releases at S&B throughout a year, learning will also take place in the workplace and a S&B Development Coach and Workplace Mentor are allocated to support and monitor your progress to help you reach your goals and manage your workload. Your employer will pay you when you are attending weekly training blocks at S&B.

More training information

S&B Automotive Academy is a specialist apprenticeship training provider located in Bedminster, Bristol. Whether you're seeking to kickstart your career in the automotive industry or business industry, S&B Automotive Academy is your go-to partner for excellence in training!

S&B has been training apprentices since the 1970’s and are one of the largest training providers in the Automotive and Business sector. We pride ourselves on our collaboration with a wide range of employers.

To be considered for this apprenticeship you must have GCSEs, Functional Skills or Key Skills at grade C/4 or above in English and maths (or equivalent), If your grades are below this, we will discuss your options for taking functional skills in maths and/or English. As well as this, predicated grades are accepted, and work experience or knowledge is beneficial but not essential.

As a result you will receive the following:

• Level 3 Vehicle Damage Panel Technician Apprenticeship Standard
• Level 2 Functional Skills in maths and English (if a GCSE grade 4/C or equivalent has not already been achieved)

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

• English (grade 3)
• Maths (grade 3)

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
• Organisation skills
• Problem solving skills
• Analytical skills
• Logical
• Initiative