Community Hire Bicycle Mechanic Apprenticeship

Introduction

We are looking for someone to assist with the day-to-day running of a social enterprise project that has a total focus on delivering innovative cycling accessibility to the community, to ensure those least likely to believe that cycling is for them, are inspired to get on a bike. Duties include servicing and repairing customer bikes.

About the Employer

We are a unique cycling social enterprise that has a total focus on delivering innovative solutions to those demographics in the community without the ability to afford their own means of active travel. We intend to fully enable their participation and enjoyment of cycling, on their terms. We are a not-for-profit, with a greater goal in mind at all times. We focus on inspiring wider cycling usage, from those who perhaps traditionally wouldn't ordinarily consider themselves cyclists, through novel solutions, predominantly via community hire. We are the opposite end of performance cycling (although we respect this element too!) Based in north London we will use cycling as a tool to tackle social and environmental challenges across London suburbs and the surrounding areas. We will leave no one behind in our push for greater cycling accessibility to address the inequalities being experienced by those most likely to be left behind, with a focus on wellbeing outcomes for all. We also have environmental objectives woven into the core fabric of all our activity.

What You'll Do

The bicycle mechanic’s role is fundamental to our daily operation and will be critical to our long-term success. You will be essential to ensuring customers get the best experience and feel part of their community hub.

The role will work both autonomously and alongside other volunteers at our social enterprise. The candidate will have the opportunity to expand the brief as the project expands its own offering.

We need someone who is passionate about delivering a new local cycling project, for the good of the wider local community and its residents.

Ultimately, we want to establish a network of club service centres embedded in local communities to serve as many ordinary residents as possible. This is the sincere ambition.

Basic & more advanced mechanic duties will be ordinarily required to include (in order of likely magnitude):

• Service and repair customers’ bikes
• Build and check new bikes ready for customers
• Refurbish traded-in bikes for inclusion in fleet
• Build and check new bikes ready for inclusion in the community fleet
• Maintain a clean, safe and tidy workshop
• Liaise with partners as required before, during and after servicing
• Create and maintain written records of work undertaken and carried out to ensure a safety audit trail of the community fleet

Personal qualities:

• A good command of spoken and written English, with the ability and personality to advise our wide variety of customers
• Overall, the desire to be part of a long-term project that makes a difference to a community and to take greater responsibility as we grow
• Good team player who is looking forward to working with team members and sharing successes and failures together as one
• A passion for fixing things and start-ups
• Pass in GCSE English & maths preferred but not obligatory

Training Outcome

• The mechanic role will be integral to the long-term success of the project
• We hope that growth in our services will provide opportunities to help in other parts of the business, additionally
• If we are able to expand our provision to additional hubs (as is the ambition), the scope for working alongside and managing the overall provision would be something we would be very keen to give responsibility, particularly to founding members

Skills Required

• Communication skills
• Attention to detail
• Organisation skills
• Customer care skills
• Problem solving skills
• Administrative skills
• Analytical skills
• Logical
• Team working
• Creative
• Initiative
• Patience

Qualifications

• Desired - GCSE - English & Maths - 5

Course Information

Course: Bicycle mechanic (level 2)

Level: 2

Route: Engineering and manufacturing

Apprenticeship Level: Intermediate

Working Arrangements

Working Week: Monday to Saturday, 8.00am - 4.00pm on a 5-day flexible working rota that can be tailored to suit the right candidate.

Expected Duration: 1 Year 6 Months

Training Provider: ACTIVATE LEARNING

This employer is part of the Disability Confident scheme, committed to employing disabled people.