New recruits: Josh Custy, mechanic at the Trefnant Garage in North Wales

Ana Arendar speaks to young people who have completed their training and recently started work in the automotive industry

I always liked cars, so when a teacher at my school offered me the opportunity to study mechanics I jumped at the chance: I was able to go to college and school at the same time.

I always liked cars, so when a teacher at my school offered me the opportunity to study mechanics I jumped at the chance. I was able to go to college and school at the same time. Three days a week I would do my GCSEs at school and the other two days I’d study mechanics at college. I was 14 when I started that, and it was great to get out of school for two days a week to go to college, which was really different because you could speak to the teachers in a way you couldn’t at school.

Before I went to college I didn’t know anything about mechanics. It was really hard at first – everything the teacher said went over my head! But then you start working on cars at college and if you stick with it eventually you understand and it becomes everyday stuff.

As soon as I finished, my college helped me get a job with the garage I am working at now. I’ve been here a year. It’s really good as I get to do all kinds of stuff, from doing services and brakes to big jobs like head gaskets and removing engines. The big jobs are the best as you can get stuck in. There are only five of us at the garage so I get quite a lot of responsibility and I learn loads of new stuff every day.

TOP TIP: "When you start studying mechanics it can be really difficult, but stick with it and you'll reach a point where it suddenly all makes sense."