I remember when I was 12 years old my dad bought me my first automotive rebuild project; a Renault 5 with a snapped cam belt. We repaired it together and my dad told me then that I had a talent for fixing things.
Then, when I was 16, my dad bought a Honda CBR 1000F motorcycle and took me out on the back. This was when I decided that motorcycles were more interesting and I bought a Honda CBR 600RR. This bike was my pride and joy, I even convinced my mum to move all of the furniture out of our dining room so I could store it there instead of outside.
I knew working with motorbikes is what I wanted to do so I took the initiative and asked at the dealership I bought my bike from. They told me about the apprenticeship programme and I applied without hesitation. I joined the Honda Apprenticeship Programme as an apprentice at Bournemouth Honda in 2008.
Being an apprentice on the Honda Programme gave me so many more advantages than some of my friends who were studying at college. They were working on older bikes, whilst doing my training at the Honda Institute meant I was working on the most modern, up to date bikes, in a state of the art, well equipped workshop that had all the latest technology. It was a dream come true. I remember being sat in the classroom listening to my trainer and thinking, “one day I would love to do their job.”
After I completed my apprenticeship I had so many opportunities open up for me. After working as a technician I was soon running the workshop on Saturdays and this progressed into a full time workshop controller.
Due to the high level of training I received during my Honda Apprenticeship, applying for jobs has always been easy. The doors that the Honda Apprenticeship Programme opened for me were massive and the quality of the training provided was recognised by everyone.
It has given me so many opportunities during my career, which has included setting up my own motorcycle garage and even joining the Navy working as an Aircraft Engineering Technician, repairing helicopters. The skills and knowledge I gained on the apprenticeship programme gave me a distinct edge over other training recruits and I was able to fly through my training in the Navy.
However, motorbikes and Honda have always remained my passion and when I got the opportunity to apply for a position as a Honda Apprenticeship Motorcycle Trainer I grabbed it. Working as a Honda Apprentice Trainer is a dream come true. I am working with products and a brand I love, expanding my own skills and knowledge even further, but the best part is passing that knowledge and skills on to the next generation of technicians and being able to support them and watch them develop and grow.