Nine South West Degree Apprentices Begin Automotive Careers With Vertu
Nine talented people from across the South West have taken their first step into the workplace after securing a place on Vertu’s much sought-after Leadership and Management Degree Apprenticeship programme.
The successful candidates, selected from over 400 applicants, are undertaking a four-year course delivered in partnership with the University of Leeds, which will see them work towards a Chartered Manager (Degree) Apprenticeship BSc.
The programme combines academic study with hands-on experience across Vertu’s dealership network, including job rotations, mentoring from senior leaders, and support from in-house experts.
The degree apprentices will study topics including strategic planning, financial management, leadership, innovation, and digital transformation.
They will also benefit from insights shared by alumni of the programme who are now continuing their careers within the business, many of who have progressed into management level roles since graduating.
The initiative is part of Vertu’s ongoing investment in talent development and its strategic expansion into the South West, where the Group has significantly grown its dealership footprint in recent years with the acquisition of Rowes Garage Ltd and of the Helston Garages Group.
The Group also made a multi-million pound investment earlier this year on two new Volvo dealership in the region, one of which brought the Volvo name back to Plymouth for the first time in 17 years, having also opened a new Renault Dacia site in Plymouth in late 2024.
The new cohort includes: Harry Ward (Vertu BMW Exeter), Tendai Musavengana (Vertu BMW Bridgwater), Aaron Edmondson (Vertu Ford Gloucester), Josh Ashby (Vertu Honda Exeter), Tilly Earp (Vertu Honda Plymouth), Rosie Cruwys (Vertu Land Rover Exeter), Neo Judge (Vertu Renault Exeter), Lewis Morgan (Vertu Volvo Exeter) and Henry Foote (Vertu Volvo Truro).
Robert Forrester, Chief Executive of Vertu, said: “We’ve seen tremendous growth in the South West, and with that comes the need to build a strong pipeline of future leaders. The calibre of applicants this year was exceptional; in fact, we recruited nine people onto the programme rather than the original eight we had planned. It’s encouraging to see such enthusiasm and potential from young people who want to build their careers in the automotive industry.
“This programme is about developing well-rounded professionals who understand the business from the ground up. Many of our rising stars within the business started as apprentices, so we’re looking forward to seeing how this new group grows and contributes to our future.”