At East Durham College our aim is to develop students’ confidence, self-esteem and work-related skills in order to improve their employability and enhance their future opportunities. So, it’s always great to hear when a former student has progressed onto a fantastic career after leaving East Durham College.
Jason Walpole, 25, from Hartlepool, left East Durham College’s Technical Academy earlier this year after successfully completing a Level 3 in Light Vehicle Maintenance & Repair Principles. After leaving, Jason quickly secured a job as a service technician at Pulman Volkswagen Durham, earning a fantastic starting salary.
This comes after Laura Makepeace, HR Manager from Pulman Volkswagen Durham, developed a new scheme to recruit technicians straight from education, allowing young graduates a foot in the door into employment and provide Pulman with eager new technicians. The scheme has been praised by all in the organisation, with Aftersales Manager, Phil Arnott, saying recruits like Jason are “great for business as they have a guaranteed skill level when coming straight into the job”.
After struggling to decide which career path to take and floating between jobs after school, Jason says joining EDC and choosing the motor vehicle industry has been the best decision he’s made. He added: “I’ve found my feet quite quickly at Pulman and I’m settling in really well”.
Jason has accredited EDC for preparing him to join the workforce. He said, “The Technical Academy helped me by providing me with practical experience and the lecturers were brilliant. I’d recommend EDC to potential students as the support I received was really good.”
Going forward, Jason wishes to stay with The Pulman Group and become a Diagnostic Master Technician. To achieve this, Pulman has his progression mapped out and will help Jason to receive his Service Technician Accreditation, then provide him with diagnostic training.
