Poole-based car bodywork and paint specialist Poole Accident Repair is delighted to announce the recent success of apprentice Sam O’Shea, 22, who has worked at the prestige repair centre since he left school in 2010.
2016 has seen Sam win the highly acclaimed title of VW Group Paint and Body Apprentice of the Year – a national award that saw him top his category against the country’s best apprentice technicians.
Starting out on the Volkswagen Apprentice Programme Sam’s career has gone from strength to strength.
His role today at Poole Accident Repair sees him work as a panel technician, stripping and faultlessly fitting un-repairable panels and replacing with new panels on prestige vehicles from manufacturers such as Audi, Porsche Bentley and Tesla.
Sam said: “I am so proud to have won this national title, I get such huge job satisfaction from every single vehicle I work on. I always wanted to forge a career in the automotive sector ever since my school work experience in year 10!
“This VW Group apprentice scheme has seen me travel to Germany for training and I have some exciting trips planned for the remainder of 2016. I have had amazing support from my family, and Poole Accident Repair has given me the opportunity to be the best in the country.”
Sam is also the youngest Audi Aluminium Technician in the country, Leon Coupland, director of Poole Accident Repair said: “It is no surprise to me that Sam has been awarded Apprentice of the Year, his enthusiasm and perfectionism as a panel technician and his love of learning is quite incredible and no doubt he will continue to achieve within Poole Accident Repair and carry on the faultless work he does on all of our customers’ vehicles.
“As a company, part of the Ocean Automotive Group, we are committed to the VWG Apprentice Scheme and brining in new talent, educating, supporting and in turn giving our customers the very best in paint and body repairs available.”
Poole Accident Repair was established in 2004 and housed the first aluminium-enclosed cabin in the UK, and following a refurbishment of the 10,000sq ft. site in 2015 the company has plans for expansion later in the year.
