Business challenge funding helps teach mechanics of the future

Date: 08-02-2010

The Aylesbury Youth Motor Project is celebrating after investing £3750 of Business Challenge Funding to buy a range of new equipment. It will help more young people in Buckinghamshire to learn motor trade and mechanics skills, giving them greater career options for the future.  

The Aylesbury Youth Motor Project successfully applied for a Business Challenge Fund grant and has since bought a new hydraulic lift, new specialists tools and an LCD display, which links the charity direct to car manufacturers and other online training features.  The extra equipment allows the registered charity to teach more young people essential skills that could help them start a career in the motor or mechanics trade. 

Buckinghamshire County Council made £100,000 available through the Business Challenge Fund last year, which asked businesses and organisations based in the county to apply for grants of up to £5000.  In all 27 Buckinghamshire based organisations won grants to invest in new equipment, hire extra staff or improved training opportunities.  Over the next few months, Buckinghamshire County Council is looking forward to showing casing how Challenge Fund grants have been invested, and are directly benefitting people and businesses across the county.

Cllr Martin Tett, Cabinet Member for Planning and Environment said; “I’m absolutely delighted to see that grant money from the County Council and the Bucks Economic & Learning Partnership (BELP) has been able to support this wonderful charity through a Business Challenge Fund grant. 

“The £3650 grant awarded to the Aylesbury Youth Motor Project has helped this charity buy a range of new equipment, enabling more young people to learn mechanical skills.  This is so important as Buckinghamshire is a hub for the motor industry, with Silverstone on our doorstep and numerous support businesses across the county.  I hope that some of these young trainees will go on to become the entrepreneurs and cutting-edge mechanics of the future.

Project Manager for the Aylesbury Youth Motor Project, Bob Hardie, added:  “Charities can often find it difficult to raise money. It was fantastic when we heard our grant application had been accepted, as we knew exactly the new equipment we wanted and needed. 

“We’ve now invested in a second hydraulic car lift so more young people can work on more cars, rather than having to take turns over longer periods of time.  As old tools wear out, we have been able to replace them.  Again, this all helps to teach hundreds of students new skills and gain on-the-spot workshop experience, which they might not be able to find elsewhere.  Council’s don’t often get the plaudits they deserve, but the County Council and BELP have been wonderful and this grant will help more young people to learn about mechanics and create a career opportunities in the industry too.”