Knowles Logistics Puts Apprentice Luke on Course Rewarding Career

From a young age Luke Pacey always knew he wanted to work with vehicles. 

The 19-year-old inherited a love of drifting from his father and bought himself his first car four years ago in an attempt to get to grips with a vehicle and learn more about how everything worked.

Discovering a natural talent for understanding cars, he decided he wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps and pursue his passion for understanding the workings of a vehicle as a career.

So he was delighted when March-based Knowles Logistics offered him an apprenticeship as a Heavy Vehicle Workshop Technician.

Celebrating his first year with Knowles he first completed a six-month placement at the company’s Wimblington site before starting his apprenticeship with GTG Training.

Luke is being mentored at Knowles by Kieren Beetlestone, Workshop Manager.

As part of the apprenticeship he is also incorporating week-long placements at college in Wolverhampton.

Subjects covered to date include trailer inspections but his favourite part of the course so far has been diagnostics.

When asked about his future career ambitions Luke said: “It would be this or wrapping cars.

“The attention to detail, how they get no ripples or bubbles, and the final results are absolutely amazing.”

His enthusiasm for his apprenticeship and his performance in the classroom recently won Luke a £100 Snap On Tools voucher from Knowles, to reward and encourage his continued efforts.

The gift followed a recent report from college tutors who described Luke’s college performance as ‘outstanding.’

Luke is just one of a number of Knowles’ staff undergoing extensive training at any one time as the company makes a conscious effort to develop skills and futureproof the business.

Its three-day, Level 2 Train the Trainer driving assessment programme gives participants the skills to complete an assessment on drivers to drive more safely and with improved fuel efficiency.

And its Warehouse to Wheels programme gives young drivers and warehouse operatives the chance to embark upon a 13-month training course, by the end of which they will be fully-fledged truck drivers.

As well as the advantages to Knowles staff the training programmes are of direct benefit to the company itself, providing a stream of fully-qualified drivers who are able to transport loads anywhere in the country.

Alex Knowles, Managing Director, said: “Luke is a young and enthusiastic member of our team and training schemes such as our apprenticeships, Train the Trainer and Warehouse to Wheels are hugely important to Knowles as we seek to nurture our younger generations who are the lifeblood of our business and indeed our industry. By investing in our staff now we are making great strides in ensuring the longevity of our business.”

Other training schemes offered by Knowles include transport manager apprenticeship programmes and leadership training.

Knowles is working in partnership with Cooper Transport Services (CTS) – a family-run transport business which is now recognised as an industry leader in all areas of training – to develop more courses focusing on leadership training, management and warehouse supervision.