“When Adam told me about the apprenticeship support available from the Skills Hub, it was a no brainer to go for it. We are so grateful. It has played a massive part in keeping the business going and given Kirsty a great career opportunity."

A small car repair business in Rugby is in safe hands for the future after taking on an apprentice with support from Warwickshire County Council’s Warwickshire Skills Hub.

When Paul Francis, owner of PF Auto Services, suffered a serious back injury in a stockcar race in Taunton earlier this year, some serious thinking was needed about how to sustain the business.

Paul faced many months with severely limited mobility so badly needed some help. It transpired that help was right at hand.

For years, Kirsty Conopo had worked in retail but helped Paul out in the garage in her spare time. The 29-year-old had acquired plenty of knowledge from working informally with Paul over the years, from learning the basics of being a mechanic to helping to restore vintage tractors and build stock cars.

Suddenly, Paul needed more than informal, occasional help, so Kirsty shed the shackles of the retail job that did not satisfy her and joined PF Auto Service as a full-time apprentice. The move, which was made possible by support from Warwickshire Skills Hub’s Apprenticeship Levy Share and Future Apprenticeships - Salary Support programmes, has worked perfectly.

“I always enjoyed helping Paul out when I could and to get the opportunity to join as a full-time apprenticeship has been brilliant,” said Kirsty. “I hated working in retail. This is where my interest is and I love it because I am learning different things every day. It is always interesting. No two days are the same and I love that.”

Kirsty is now studying for her Light Vehicle Service & Maintenance Technician Level Three apprenticeship to add to the Level 2 diploma in Light Vehicle Maintenance which she took in Northampton last year.

Paul describes her joining his company as an apprentice as a “godsend.” He is now making good progress after his injury but is still some way from full fitness so is very grateful for the input of Kirsty, the support of his neighbouring business at Arches Business Centre in Mill Road, and the backing of Warwickshire Skills Hub, to whom he was introduced by Adam Plumb of Coventry & Warwickshire Growth Hub.

“It has all worked out beautifully,” said Paul. “It was a really tough situation, but friends and neighbours kept me going and Kirsty has been a godsend. When Adam told me about the apprenticeship support available from the Skills Hub, it was a no brainer to go for it. We are so grateful. It has played a massive part in keeping the business going and given Kirsty a great career opportunity.

“She is already a big asset to the business and will only become a bigger one with all that she is learning because who knows what the future of the industry looks like?”

Steven Convery, Business Skills Support Officer, at Warwickshire Skills Hub, said: “I am delighted that the move has worked out so well and that we have been able to support Paul and Kirsty with the required funding. Our Apprenticeship Levy Share programme is funding the cost of the apprenticeship training and because Kirsty’s course includes working with and maintaining Electric Vehicles, it means that she is eligible for the Future Apprenticeships - Salary Support too. 

”Kirsty is living proof that successful apprenticeships are not the preserve of school and college leavers and it is lovely to see her proving that a woman can be such a huge asset in an occupation which tends to be male-dominated.”

* If you would like to know how Warwickshire Skills Hub can support your business with apprenticeships and upskilling, please email skillshub@warwickshire.gov.uk  and one of our Business Support Advisors will be in touch.