A CAR sales group is fighting a skills shortage by returning to the old tradition of developing home grown talent.

Smith Knight Fay is launching a group apprenticeship scheme in conjunction with its vehicle importers - Volkswagen, Audi, Mazda and Toyota.

The 350-employee group, which is based in Hyde, Cheshire, has seven other outlets in the North -west, including a Volkswagen/Audi franchise in Mill Street, Bolton.

Applications are being sought over the next couple of weeks for the first intake of 15 school-leaver apprentices due to begin their training in September.

Four of them will be based in Bolton.

Mr Graham Knight, the company's chairman and chief executive, said today: "There's a definite skill shortage developing within the motor trade and the only way to reverse the trend is to become serious about committing to a quality staff development programme.

"I believe our approach will be followed by many other companies both inside and outside the motor trade." He went on: "I completed a recognised apprenticeship as have many of the directors and members of the senior management team, but there has been a definite gap since the mid-1980s and this is starting to take its toll.

"We struggle to find quality, experienced people whenever a vacancy arises or we expand our operations - it is time we became less reliant on the general market place and developed our own home grown talent."

The apprenticeships will be three or five years long, leading to NVQ level 3 in year three, with an additional B-Tec national qualification in years 4 and 5 for service technicians.

The NVQ will be managed by Centrex Training management agency, which specialises in motor trade training. There will be manufacturers' training courses throughout the scheme, with the local colleges providing the final two years' training.

Mr Bruce Cox, the company's customer services director, said: "These young people will be trained specifically in our products using the most up-to-date equipment and technology and to the highest levels currently available in the motor trade." Apprentices will only be accepted on to the scheme after a final interview with both the candidate and parents.

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