There’s more to motor careers: Apprentice MET Technician

A passion started from childhood helped Sean Morris choose an automotive career. Now his passion and effort are helping the Apprentice MET Technician at Steer Automotive Group achieve his goals.

What inspired you to work in automotive?

I would help my dad out doing small jobs. Whether that was just a bit of DIY around the house, fixing our car or helping him at work with plant machinery. Add the fact that I have always had an interest in cars, [and it] means that this career path would be ideal for me and something I can really excel at.

With so many options, how did you decide which part of the industry you wanted to work in?

The thing that really drew me into the accident repair industry was the fact that when the car first enters the workshop damaged, by the time it leaves the workshop, it is like a brand-new car. This gives me a sense of pride that I can visually see what all of my hard work has helped achieve. 

How did you make the dream a reality?

Plenty of effort at school and at college to gain my qualifications and then after I was employed by Steer, I made sure that nothing changed, and I put in even more effort to show them why I deserved to be there. 

What have been the most challenging and most enjoyable parts of your apprenticeship?

There have been many of ups and downs, but I have enjoyed every minute of it and have learnt a great deal. Some of the most challenging parts of the apprenticeship have been getting to grips with the term ‘learn from your mistakes’. Some of the most enjoyable parts are when you finish a job, and feel like you have achieved something and also learning new skills.

What does a typical week consist of?

A typical week consists of getting to work and then stripping the damaged cars down, assessing for further damage, completing plenty of wheel alignments and by the time I have finished that, the jobs which I had stripped the week prior are ready to refit.

Where would you like your career to take you?

In 5 years time I would hope to be still working for Steer as a qualified MET Technician having learnt an abundance of great skill from my mentor which will help me grow and become a more skilful technician.

What advice would you give someone looking at the apprentice route?

Go for it and don’t look back. It is a great way to learn in the real world and gain new skills and as a bonus you also get paid for your hard work and be treated as an adult. Most of all, be yourself and take in as much information as possible.

Take a look at our 'There's More to Motor' website to see the campaign in action. Whether you're an individual or a business, we'd love for you to support our campaign by promoting it on social media, through emails and on your website. Download our toolkit and help us change the perception of the automotive sector.