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Jacksons’ only female apprentice Mercedes-Benz technician has won a top industry award.
Jodie Fallaize (21) was named Technical Apprentice of the Year at the Mercedes-Benz Apprentice of the Year Awards 2015. More than 400 apprentices from across the United Kingdom were considered for the illustrious award.
"I wasn’t expecting it at all, it was a total surprise. I was the only woman nominated so I was absolutely delighted, even though it was a complete shock," said Miss Fallaize.
"I’ve always been into cars. My dad was a technician so it probably comes from there."
Miss Fallaize, who studied engineering at the College of Further Education, joined the dealership’s parts department as an adviser in 2012. She is in the second year of her Mercedes-Benz technician apprenticeship.
Bob Snell, general aftersales manager, said Miss Fallaize had shown great promise from the start of her time with Jacksons.
He said: "Jodie showed herself to be hardworking and proficient in her role as a parts adviser and during the 2013 apprentice intake, when Jodie applied, there was only one winner. To see Jodie not only blossom in this programme, but achieve UK recognition for her skill, knowledge and attitude, is a very proud moment for Jacksons. Our people are our greatest asset and work really hard to set us apart from the competition. Jodie’s award further demonstrates that we have some great and talented people here in Guernsey.
"Our normal apprentice route, would be to enrol our apprentices into the Guernsey College of Education apprenticeship programme, to which we have had good input and success, bringing through talented individuals. But Jodie didn’t join us directly from school and had some good life skills. We looked at this as an option to try a manufacturer apprenticeship programme and to be honest, we haven’t looked back."
Jacksons currently has six apprentices at various levels of the apprenticeship programme.
Once qualified, they begin their journey to become a Master Technician. Jacksons currently has 14 technicians within the dealership, with eight of them holding current Master Technician status and training plans in place for the others to reach this level.
