TIP Group, a leading truck and trailer service provider, is launching a brand new academy to educate trailer mechanics.

The TIP Mechanic Academy will launch in Canada, Denmark, France, the Netherlands and the UK this autumn and in Germany in early 2024.

The Academy will be the first of its kind in the transportation industry, with trainees becoming TIP certified trailer mechanics in nine months instead of the standard three to four years for heavy vehicle certification. Additionally, trainees will receive a full package of salary and benefits relevant to their experience level when they join.

The TIP Mechanic Academy is open to individuals who wish to pursue a technician career in the transportation industry. The programme covers a wide range of topics, including trailer maintenance, diagnostics, repair and safety. Trainees will also receive practical training at TIP's state-of-the-art facilities, working on real trailers under the guidance of experienced mechanic mentors.

Combining instructor-lead, e-learning and hands-on training, trainees will have the chance to learn from TIP experts and immediately bring what they learn into practice. The training programme will be limited to eight to twelve trainees per class, ensuring trainees will get the attention they deserve. TIP is committed to providing ongoing career development opportunities for its employees, and graduates of the TIP Mechanic Academy will have access to further training and advancement within the organisation, either as a workshop supervisor/manager, or a technician. Upon successful completion of the training, all trainees will also be offered the opportunity to join the annual global Mechanic Team Competition, where the talent and expertise of mechanics are celebrated and rewarded, with finals being held in Valencia.

Hiske Damhuis, Chief Human Resource Officer said, “Mechanics are the unsung heroes of our industry and we rely on them to serve our customers and keep their fleet on the road. The TIP Mechanic Academy is a great opportunity to attract new talent, and the fast-track learning ensures trainees get to put their new knowledge into practice in just nine months and receive renumeration as if they graduated from a 4-year education programme.”

During the programme, trainees will be paid a starting salary of £25,000 to £29,000 depending on experience and location, with a salary commitment of up to £31,000 upon successful completion of the training. Trainees will also receive a comprehensive toolbox worth over £1,000 containing the latest tools to help them succeed in their training.

Although in the UK the Academy is based at TIP’s Nuneaton branch, TIP is welcoming applications from budding mechanics that will ultimately be based at TIP’s branches in Liverpool, Manchester, Hull, Southampton, Nuneaton and Lichfield.

Applications for the TIP Mechanic Academy are now open, and the programme will commence in autumn 2023. For more information and how to apply, click here.

Photo: The TIP Academy aims to attract new talent to the transport industry.