D&G Autocare’s apprentices have grown in number to seven with several new teenagers recently joining the firm, two of them local lads.

Five mechanic apprentices are currently training at garages in Fife, Livingston and Perth.

And two administration apprentices are currently based at D&G’s new office Headquarters at Nicol Street, Kirkcaldy, the most recent of whom is Mackenzie Erskine (17), from Lochgelly (pictured). He joins D&G following a sixteen week work experience stint.

The garage group has been operating its apprentice scheme for the past three and a half years and has recently extended it to cover office administration roles.

Said George Simpson, D&G Autocare co-owner, “We are delighted to now have seven apprentices in various roles across the group, and not just mechanic apprentices.

“We are a growing firm and as we grow we have more need for administration roles, especially as we have recently moved to new headquarters here in Kirkcaldy.

“We really value our apprentice scheme as we are attracting youngsters into the industry and training them to our standards which will hopefully ensure that they stay with the firm long term. We enjoy a very low staff turnover here at D&G with our customers seeing the same friendly faces time and time again.” Continued George, “We believe it is a company strength to retain staff and we know that our customers and suppliers build up relationships with them.” Michael Kerr (18), from Kelty, is an apprentice mechanic at D&G in Inverkeithing and making up the five is Jordan Munro who is based at D&G’s Rumblingwell garage in Dunfermline.

New administration apprentice, Mackenzie, officially started at D&G on the 1st August but had been gaining work experience with the firm prior to this.

He will serve a six month apprenticeship and receive an SVQ but hopes to go on to other stages, gaining 2 or 3 other SVQ’s and possibly a qualification in IT at the end.

“Mackenzie is doing really well and is already showing real aptitude for work with databases,” said Pete Wood, D&G’s Operations Director.

“We received funding assistance for him from Capability Scotland which encourages and assists young people who maybe have confidence issues or other problems holding them back, to get into the workforce.

“We are keen to work with organisations like this if funding is available as it will enable us to take on more apprentices as we grow – we are able to offer them job security if they do well with us.” “We are settling well into our new Kirkcaldy HQ,” added Pete Wood.

“The building is big enough to incorporate both a garage and our offices - it was formerly a printers and there is plenty of space at the back too which we plan to develop into a training area.”