Leading motor dealer franchise Pendragon PLC – and Nottinghamshire’s second largest company – is investing in upskilling contact centre operatives through West Nottinghamshire College.

Twelve employees who currently lead teams of contact centre team members, are being put through their paces on a Team Leading and Supervisor Level 3 apprenticeship.

The 18-month apprenticeship will be delivered at the Pendragon’s specialist Training Academy on Southwell Road West in Mansfield. Apprentices will work through the various modules designed to strengthen skills in communicating in a business environment, managing personal performance and development as well as developing working relationships with colleagues

Reece Thompson, 20, from Nottingham, is about to embark on the apprenticeship. He said: “I’ve always been drawn towards working in customer service and this leadership programme will give me more of an insight to be able to perform to the best of my abilities as a team leader as well as looking at how to get the most from my team members.

“We have many contact centre team members at the Annesley site and it’s important that the group of current team leaders can be as professionally developed as possible to support this team.

Jo Moxon, HR director at Pendragon PLC, said: “We are committed to developing our team members and supporting them to progress in their careers.

“This apprenticeship is a fantastic opportunity for some of our contact centre team members to develop both customer service and leadership skills on the road to becoming our future leaders. I look forward to seeing these team members progress with us.”

Pendragon also has apprentices studying at the college’s Engineering Innovation Centre in Kirkby-in-Ashfield on the Level 2 Apprenticeship in Light Vehicle Maintenance and Repair on a rolling programme.