Bridgend Training Academy Week 4 - Parts Department

Week 4 of the Training Academy was spent between the Parts Department and the Pre Sales Checking Department. Alex who started a week later went into the Mechanical Workshop in Kilmarnock to do his Week 3 and Matthew who was on holiday went to Kilwinning Workshop to complete his mechanical section. 

Week 4 took place between all Parts Departments at Ayr, Kilwinning and Kilmarnock and PSC departments who travel between all branches checking in the cars bought in to see what they require before being put on the sales yards. Each trainee was assigned a mentor at each department to show them what goes on in each part and encourage them.

Over the course of the week the Parts Trainees were shown how to answer phone calls, make phone calls to suppliers to order parts and booking parts deliveries in.

At the end of the week the trainees filled in their appraisal forms and got their certificates. Among the comments were

"I found this challenging after the practical weeks but once I got into using the computer system and phones I really got into it and enjoyed it"

"Was a bit nervous for this week as I saw how busy the parts department was when I was in the workshop but my mentor was calm and confident and gave me help when I asked for it"

"It was good. Very busy but I got more confident as the week went on and my mentor allowed me to make calls and decisions by myself"

Bridgend's Parts Advisers who were the mentors for the week had these comments for the trainees

"I had my trainee working with me in Parts last week and she showed great initiative and interest in learning the systems and dept. She picked it up no problem at all, was answering calls on her own accord and making calls to order parts. I showed her the stock process for booking in consumables and tyres we keep in dept and by the end of the week she was openly able to nearly work on her own. So all positive from me."

"My trainee has been great here keen to learn and not afraid to get stuck in "

"He takes his time so his work is accurate. He has been a pleasure to work with."

Week 5 is a swap around so the Parts Trainees go into Pre Sales Checking and vice versa!! Week 5 is also Review Week where we get feedback from the trainees and mentors on how the Training Academy is going.