With interest in automotive apprenticeships waning and leakage of newly qualified technicians to other industries, HMCA has established what it calls the Apprenticeship Academy, as it seeks to fast-track the progress of graduating techs to the rank of ‘master technician’.
“I think what cannot be understated is that there are few technicians in the industry that make it their lifelong choice,” said HMCA general manager of public relations Bill Thomas. “Many move out of the industry taking years of expertise with them.
“By implementing an Apprentice Academy, we aim to fast-track apprentices to the position of master technician. While they receive the national curriculum during their studies with us, focussed sections aligning with the brand allow Hyundai to align their skill sets into higher certification levels sooner.”
HMCA is one of the few automotive importers who offer the national qualification Certificate III in Automotive Mechanical Technology to apprentices using its own full-time trainers, equipment and vehicles at its own facilities.
The company operates three-year apprenticeships at four internally funded training centres around the country, and has recently partnered with TAFE colleges in New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia to support its internal operation.
By the book: Hyundai is taking its future into its own hands, as it looks to build a bank of highly skilled trainees who have master technician potential.
TAFE NSW’s South Western Sydney Institute TAFE Victoria’s Chisholm Institute, TAFE Western Australia’s Polytechnic West are the three most recent additions.
Apprentices sign up with the TAFEs via an apprenticeship contract for administrative purposes, leaving the academy free to teach the students.
An association with Queensland TAFE has been on stream since 2008, when HMCA was granted Registered Training Organisation (RTO) status for the trade qualification of AUR30612 Certificate III in Automotive Technology Light Vehicle.
This certification allowed the company to offer the qualification outside of government or private institutions.
Traditionally, car-makers send their apprentices either to TAFE or privately operated training organisations; Renault Australia has recently partnered with the Kangan Institute, which will look after the line importer’s training needs on a contract basis.
Since 2009, approximately 345 apprentices have been through Hyundai’s Advanced Apprenticeship Academy. HCMA expects upwards of 27 third-year students to graduate this year, with another 60 to start in 2016.
HMCA estimates the academy costs the company $2.5 million per annum but it does receive some subsidies of up to $300,000 per year from government and partner institutions.
“We wanted to ensure that we have the right staff in our dealers for the future,” said HMCA senior technical trainer Rick Parker. “We recognised that technology was growing, our sales are growing and we needed the dedicated qualified and skilled staff to maintain our product.
“We currently have 132 attendees, from first-year to third-year apprentices.”
Another major objective of the academy, he said, was to give young people entitlement with a big brand.
“We wanted to build brand loyalty. We want them to be part of the Hyundai family.”
Major Sydney-based Hyundai dealership Ryde Motor Group’s fixed operations manager Rob Pappalardo said he is a firm advocate for Hyundai’s Academy.
“I’m a big fan,” he said. “It’s good that our Hyundai apprentices are trained on the product itself, rather than going elsewhere and learning on, say, an old HQ Holden.
“The fact that we lose those apprentices for roughly one week per month, rather than one day a week, works well for us, too. Their four-year apprenticeship is also contributing towards their six-year Master Technician qualification.”
By Tim Robson
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