Cheshire College – South & West’s motor vehicle department has joined forces with CES UK to open the country’s first college-based motor vehicle parts store at its Crewe Campus.
CES UK, a member of The Parts Alliance, is one of the UK’s leading suppliers of automotive parts with branches across the North West, Midlands and North Wales.
The new store, which is run by students studying Level 2 and Level 3 Motor Vehicle Maintenance, sells a wide range of automotive parts, tools and equipment ranging from de-icer, engine oil, batteries and socket sets.
Alex Edmunds, lecturer in automotive technologies, said: “Having our own College-based parts store is fantastic for our students.
“They now get the chance to experience and learn about all aspects of the motor industry – from vehicle repair, to understanding how dealerships operate and now to running a parts store.”
The parts store is open three days per week to other students, staff and members of the public.
Students improve their skills in customer service as well as ordering parts and running a business at a profit.
The parts store follows a successful partnership that has developed between the college and the local CES store.
Branch manager David Hughes explained: “We currently take on two or three students each week for work experience.
“They get the chance to deal with customers over the phone, process orders, booking in stock and general warehouse management.”
He added: “It’s a privilege to continue to develop our working relationship with the college and we are delighted with the opening of this new store.”
