Apprentice Vehicle Damage Panel Technician

Summary

Are you curious about cars and enjoy hands-on work? Join FMG Repair Services' Grimsby bodyshop as an Apprentice Vehicle Damage Panel Technician. You'll repair and replace vehicle body panels while earning a Level 3 qualification. No experience needed, just enthusiasm and a willingness to learn.

Wage

£17,728.62 a year

£8.50 per hour in year 1, rising to the national wage for your age from year 2.

Training course

Vehicle damage panel technician (level 3)

Hours

Monday to Friday, varied between 08:00 and 17:00.

40 hours a week

Start date

Tuesday 1 December 2026

Duration

2 years 9 months

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 Vehicle Damage Panel Technician, you'll assist and learn across a variety of tasks, including: 

• Repairing, removing and replacing vehicle body panels to manufacturer standards
• Learning to repair both structural and non-structural vehicle damage
• Carrying out panel alignment and using a range of repair techniques, including welding, bonding and mechanical fastening
• Following approved repair methods to ensure repairs meet quality and safety standards
• Maintaining tools, equipment and a clean, safe working environment
• Working alongside experienced technicians while developing your practical skills
• Communicating effectively with your team and contributing to a positive working environment 

Where you'll work

West Coates Road
Grimsby
DN31 2SY

Training

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

Training provider

THATCHAM RESEARCH

Training course

Vehicle damage panel technician (level 3)

What you'll learn

• 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

Your training will take place both at your workplace and Thatcham Research Automotive Academy, Daytona Drive, Thatcham, RG19 4NR. Block-release training with an apprenticeship provider every six weeks.

More training information

• Block-release training with an apprenticeship provider every six weeks
• On-the-job guidance from an experienced team and allocated workplace mentor
• Visits from a training provider coach every 6–8 weeks
• Additional support from Apprenticeship Central 

Requirements

Desirable qualifications

GCSE in:

• English (grade Grade 4/C or above)
• Maths (grade Grade 4/C or above)

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
• Team working

Other requirements

Able to travel reliably to and from the workplace.