Blue Print is proud to announce its support for Open Road West Norfolk, a project aimed at developing and educating the next generation of vehicle mechanics.

Open Road offers 14-16-year-olds the chance to work hands-on with motorbikes and cars, under the guidance of professional instructors in modern and well equipped training centres. The combination of this practical work with classroom-based theory teaching gives participants the opportunity to gain an entry level IMI technical qualification as well. In many cases, this will act as a stepping stone into full apprenticeships.

Open Road has been operating in the Norfolk area since 2006, when it opened its first fully functional workshop in Norwich. In September 2009, the Open Road West Norfolk training centre opened in King’s Lynn, and Blue Print has lent its support by sponsoring the purchase of a swing-arm tyre changer for the workshop and also providing stationery for the two classrooms on site.

As part of what is planned to be an ongoing partnership with Open Road, Blue Print will also be providing parts for use as visual aids in the classroom and also for actual fitment to a Subaru Impreza that has been donated by Bluecycle.com for the trainees to practice on.

Youngsters from local schools will be able to come to the centre to gain some under-the-bonnet technical and engineering skills alongside their academic studies. As well as getting young people interested in the motor trade and developing their individual practical talent, the project has huge value in the way it will help students develop their team–work and participation skills. By helping the youngsters understand the importance of how these skills relate back to what they are taught in school, the project will help improve their chances of academic success and their future employment prospects.

Schools are able to nominate pupils to attend courses at the centre one or two days a week. The first beneficiaries of Open Road West Norfolk will be ten boys from Downham Market High school, who will come to the workshop once per week on a Thursday to receive tuition from technical trainer Dan Graves, whose services have been sourced courtesy of Pro Auto Ltd, who incidentally also kindly provide Blue Print with technical information for our Blue Print technical library.