To show his support for National Apprentice Week, Michael Wilmshurst, chief executive of Nationwide Accident Repair Group plc in the UK, recently donned his overalls and took part in a body repair training programme at the Thatcham Automotive Academy.

The Chief Exec, who heads the UK’s largest automotive body repair company, took part in a morning of panel repair and paintwork training at the Thatcham Automotive Academy. His ‘back to the floor’ day included learning key techniques for junior technicians to demonstrate his support for maintaining workforce skills through apprenticeships.

Thatcham’s commercial director, Lesley Upham said, ‘We want young people to think about the exciting combination of a hands-on technical or commercial education and the ability to earn while you learn as a serious incentive to undertaking an apprenticeship.’

Michael Wilmshurst has been a steadfast believer in the value of apprenticeships to his business for the past 12 years. He says, ‘In times of recession many companies are looking for ways of saving money, and the training budget can be seen as an easy place to achieve that, but I believe that our apprentices are the future of Nationwide and each of them has the potential to move up the organisation to senior management. Today’s event has reaffirmed that belief and rekindled my respect and admiration for the skill, professionalism and experience of the teams carrying out their daily jobs.’