The RAC is looking to offer more young people a two-year apprenticeship following the success of its scheme in the Greater London area.

The RAC Academy opened its doors for the first time in 2015, in conjunction with Barking & Dagenham College, and has just seen its first graduates complete the two-year course.

The four patrols who completed the course are: Taylor Spicer, based in the Chelmsford area; Adil Uddin, based in North London; Sonny-Jo Gillam, based in the Croydon area and Brandon Wagstaff also based in North London.

The apprentices, all now aged 20, worked four days a week with the RAC while attending a day a week at college in order to complete their NVQ. And all four say they would recommend the course to young people looking for career-based training.

The four trainee patrols benefited from a wealth of experience among the RAC trainers on the scheme including Matt Woodbridge, Tom Dawson, Dave Humphreys and Steve Dobson.

RAC service improvement manager Simon Cooper said: “The course has been a great success and the guys are now full-time RAC Patrols, out on the road coming to the rescue of our members.

“We’re now reviewing the RAC Academy in terms of what worked well and where we could improve in some areas, as it was the first time we’d been able to train patrols in this way.

“But we feel this is the start of a wider roll out, giving more people the chance to become RAC Patrol apprentices across the country.”

RAC group operations director Phil Ryan added: “This is the first time we’ve had RAC Patrol apprentices and they will leave here now to start their full-time jobs while also being a huge credit to the scheme, demonstrating what can be achieved.

“These four guys really have shown the way, and thanks to the success of the programme, and the work they have done it will enable us to do more, grow the programme and give others the opportunity that they have had.”

Sarah McCurrie, director of Apprenticeships at Barking & Dagenham College said: “We are extremely proud that we trained the first cohort of RAC Patrol apprentices in the country and we are looking forward to continuing our successful partnership with the RAC over the coming years.

“We send our best wishes to the RAC Academy graduates and wish them every success on their career journeys.”