Nathan Faggotter is the MTA Institute Apprentice of the Month for May 2022.
The 18-year-old has been working at Longreach Motors in Longreach since the beginning of 2020, is now in the third year of his auto electrical apprentice, and has become an integral member of the workshop team.
Stepping into an automotive apprenticeship while still at school was not something that had initially crossed Nathan’s mind. However, as can often happen, a chance opportunity opened up a world of possibilities, and a week-long work experience stint at Longreach Motors was the key to showing Nathan that a career as an auto electrician might be just the thing for him.
Go back three years and Nathan’s school had a work experience initiative in place for those in Year 10, meaning Nathan had to find something to do for a week. His dad – a small motors mechanic by trade – reached out to Longreach Motors to see if there might be a spot for his son. There was, and things quickly fell into place even though Nathan had no knowledge of, and little interest in, auto electrical work.
“I did a week of work experience here and I really enjoyed it,” he said. “I was working with the auto electrician, and we did mobile work, as well as plenty in the workshop, and that whole week was great. I was hooked.”
A short time later, Nathan was back to do another week at the shop and then approached Longreach Motors’ owners to see if there was room to take him on full time as an apprentice. There was, and he started the apprenticeship within a few days.
Two-and-a-half years later and Nathan is as enthusiastic about the job as he was after that first week of work experience. And while he works predominantly on auto electric jobs, thanks to the range of services on offer at Longreach Motors he is being stretched and challenged in other areas too.
The business is member of the Tyrepower network and offers mechanical, electrical, diagnostic, maintenance, accessory fitting, and a host of other services for vehicles ranging from passenger cars to heavy trucks to utes, caravans and RVs. It’s a stimulating environment for a young apprentice to learn their trade.
“I get to work on mechanical jobs – servicing, repairs, tyre fitting, accessory fitting through ARB – so there’s always plenty going on,” said Nathan. “And I enjoy being able to have that knowledge of how to do those jobs, even though I do really enjoy the electrical side of things.”
With battery-electric vehicles and hybrids sure to become more common over the next few years, Nathan’s interest in, and knowledge of, auto electrical technology will be very useful. Electric vehicles may also play a part in his planned future pursuit of a career as a business owner.
“I think about electric vehicles all the time and I am very interested in extending my learning further about them,” he said. “They will be a very big part of the industry’s future and especially my trade, so training on electric and hybrid vehicles really interests me.
“And I am very interested in business,” he added. “Most of my family have some sort of tie with businesses – either owning one or being a major part of one – and that really does interest me. Hopefully, one day down the line, I will be able to have a business of my own.”
Source: Motor Trader e-Magazine (June 2022)
16 June 2022
