Meet our apprentices

From college to a career: Why Kieran chose Carwood

Kieran’s journey with Carwood started long before his apprenticeship. After completing his college course in ‘Sport’ whilst working part‑time at Carwood, he was offered the chance to join the Business Administration Level 3 apprenticeship programme. Kieran had already undertaken work experience with the company when he was 15, so he knew Carwood well and could see this was a good opportunity to develop his career.

“I thought the Business Admin apprenticeship would be a good career option. I already knew the company and how they operated, so it felt like the right step.”

Developing skills for the future

Throughout his apprenticeship, Kieran gained a wide range of business skills, including communication, commercial awareness and teamwork. Working closely with customers, engineers and colleagues helped him develop both written and verbal communication styles tailored to different audiences. These skills now play a key role in how he works day‑to‑day.

“Communication is the skill that stands out the most. I had to vary my communication style depending on who I was dealing with and that’s something I really improved during the apprenticeship.”

Support that makes a difference

Kieran’s learning experience was a combination of college training and support in the workplace. He attended college every two weeks and received dedicated study time within his working day. His manager, Liam, provided ongoing guidance and regular visits from his tutor helped keep him on track.

“Carwood gave me the time and support I needed. Liam was always there to answer questions and having dedicated learning time really helped me understand the job fully.”

A smooth transition into full‑time employment

Finishing the apprenticeship brought a sense of achievement and the opportunity of a role for him at the end. Because he had already built relationships, developed the skills he needed and gained real experience, moving into full‑time employment was the next step.

“It was a good to know there was the opportunity to progress to a full-time role. The transition was smooth because I already knew the role and the people.”

Succeeding in his role

Now working as a Sales Advisor in the Parts Service team, Kieran continues to use the skills he developed during his apprenticeship every day. The programme gave him confidence, capability and a strong foundation to build his career at Carwood.

“My apprenticeship gave me the confidence to do my job well. I can apply what I learnt and know I’m delivering the best service possible.”