A RECORD intake of apprentices has been recruited by Bradford-based motors group JCT600.

The family-owned motor retailer has taken on 35 youngsters in a variety of roles across its 47 dealerships.

JCT600 has run an apprentice scheme for several years but this is the first year that it has boosted its numbers by so many, trebling previous intakes with plans for a further increase next year. In total, JCT600 employs 94 apprentices.

This year’s intake has seen the firm take on trainees mainly in technician roles, as well as parts and bodyshop advisers at its dealerships throughout Yorkshire and the Humber, the North East, Derbyshire, Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire.

The apprenticeships run for two and three years with trainees working towards NVQ Level 3 qualifications alongside IMI Technical Certificates.

John Tordoff, chief executive, said: “Over the summer our HR team, along with service and parts managers, have successfully recruited for a record number of apprenticeship vacancies across the group in a deliberate drive to ensure we are building skills and talent for the future.

“Our ongoing success is dependent on us being able to continue to attract and retain the best people and we are committed to investing in developing our team.

“The apprentice route is a great way to bring school-leavers with potential into the business, offering them an alternative career path where they can learn on the job, gaining a recognised qualification while earning a salary.

“In September we held a number of induction events to get our new apprentices off to the best start and help them and their parents understand what is expected of them and how we will support them. It’s great to see the enthusiasm of these young people and we believe they will be a real asset to the JCT600 family.”

Meanwhile, JCT600’s Porsche Centre in Leeds has won first place in two categories of a national competition launched by the sports car-maker to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the introduction of the first Porsche production car equipped with a turbo engine.

Technicians at the JCT600 centre spent six months restoring a neglected 33-year-old classic Porsche 911 turbo sports car, involving nearly 1,000 hours of work bringing the car back to its former glory.

JCT600’s Bradford body clinic was involved in the project stripping the body back to a bare shell while work on rebuilding the engine, gearbox and running parts went ahead.