At GTA Group Training Association we are celebrating big this year!
We recently completed our first Level 3 Paint Technician End Point Assessment (EPA), in our state-of-the-art bodyshop at our Doncaster branch training centre, using The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) as the awarding body.
The first candidate to take on the EPA was Lewis Brayford who has achieved a Distinction grade in all elements of the EPA.
If this was not already a great achievement, it has been confirmed to be the first Distinction grade awarded by the IMI in the country for this standard!
A Distinction grade in the End Point Assessments means that Lewis showcased his fantastic work ethic and knowledge in his EPA tasks, using everything he had learned to demonstrate to the IMI assessor that he had the skillset to perform to an industry standard.
Lewis’s Tutor had this to say “Lewis maintained his focus and professionalism throughout the challenging two-day assessment period and thoroughly deserves his Distinction. It has been an absolute privilege and pleasure to have the opportunity to teach Lewis.” John Pearson Paint and Panel Apprenticeship Tutor
Lewis Brayford, who works at BCA Automotive, in Doncaster, started his Paint apprenticeship course at GTA, completing his Level 2, then progressing on to the Level 3 standard. During this time Lewis was also asked to attend a Gala dinner at the Mercure Sheffield Hotel & Spa due to getting through to the final 5 in the Intermediate Apprentice of the Year category for the South Yorkshire Apprenticeship Awards.
Lewis’s Employer had this to say “Lewis has been our best apprentice to date, he has excelled in all areas of the Body shop repair process. Not only does the hold a very high skill set he actively goes out of his way to help and train others including mature adults.
Lewis has been an inspiration for our new apprentices and a role model. BCA think very highly of him, and we are looking at his leaderships skills to manage the future of our Body shop and its aspirations.” John Brown Depot Manager BCA Fleet Solutions, Doncaster
Lewis also took on the role of Apprenticeship Ambassador during GTA’s Open Days in 2021 and 2022. This involved talking to those in attendance all about his experience as an apprentice. Lewis spent the day talking with various visitors and industry representatives, being a judge for the car show section, as well as helping to reveal GTA’s own in-house built race car project, which was painted and prepared by the apprentices themselves.
Here at GTA we could not be happier helping Lewis reach this level of excellence along with everything else he has managed to achieve while learning at our organisation – we are very proud of his achievement and we wish him the very best for his future career!
Our aim is to continue teaching to an incredibly high standard and to help shape the future of the motor industry.