All of our automotive courses have been designed to give you the skills you need for a career in the automotive industry. As a student at college, you’ll study in our purpose-built workshops which mirror what it’s like to work in the industry and are fully equipped with all the latest tools and technologies which you would expect in the workplace. Our tutors also maintain an involvement with the auto industry to ensure they are passing on the most up-to-date skills to our students.
Hydrogen and Electrical Vehicles
Our Automotive Team at Chesterfield College made an exciting trip to Toyota in Derby to collect a hydrogen car. There are only 200 hydrogen cars in the UK, three of which are now owned by further education colleges. Chesterfield College, Nottingham College and Burton College all made the journey to collect their new hydrogen cars to enhance their education offering in their Automotive Departments. We are passionate about making sustainable changes to be at the forefront of education and technology in the local area. The team are excited to be training the future leaders of the industry in specialist technologies and to also provide local businesses with the opportunity to upskill and train in our facilities. The college has also secured a hydrogen fuel card for the vehicle. There are only six stations in the country, we are fortunate to have one in close proximity between Sheffield and Rotherham.
We asked Andy Birch Automotive specialist Lecturer about his visit and how it felt driving away from Derby with a £65k top-of-the-range vehicle. He said:
“As sustainability technology is moving at a fast pace we as a college need to keep up. By choosing Toyota, we have the lead in green technologies.
Toyota has always been at the front of green technology and the college picking the Mirai we have future-proofed our training, this will give our students the edge.
This vehicle has spaceship technology on 4 wheels”.
We also have a fully electrical vehicle in our workshop, so students can learn the skills needed to keep up with today’s demands. We are passionate about making sustainable changes and want to be at the forefront of education in the local area.
Callum Clarke…
“If there is a particular goal, it would be something within motorsport. Last year for our induction we had the Accelerate British Touring Car team come in for a talk. It was great to hear how the team and car worked. I found it really interesting. Maybe not in the forefront, but in the background working on the car and being the backbone of the team.”
Auto Industry Week 2022
The first week at college we always try and make it be a memorable one for our Automotive students. Last year they had a different event every day to really excite them for the year ahead and allow them to start thinking about the career outcomes this course could result in.
Here are some of the highlights.
Holly May-Buckland…
“After I complete level 1, I hope to progress to level 2. I have been working in a scrap yard at the weekends with my Dad. Stripping cars, and tires and learning along the way. I teach him and he teaches me. I taught my Dad how to properly strip a tire the other day and refit it. I’m learning how to organise parts and list them online from my colleagues. It’s great to do my own independent work too. I learn something at college and then put it into practice at the scrap yard.”
Apprenticeship Opportunities
Level 3 Automotive Retail Motor Vehicle Service and Maintenance Technician