A FERRARI dealer in Swindon is looking to find the next generation of sports car technicians this week.

The Dick Lovett showroom, on Frankland Road, is inviting local pupils along to an apprenticeship open day for National Apprenticeship Week on Saturday.

New recruit Jake Shapland started a three-year apprenticeship there in October after finishing his GCSEs.

He told the Adver: “Being able to work on these cars instead of a broken down Ford Fiesta – it’s kind of the dream, really.

“I’ve always enjoyed cars and motorbikes, I grew up around them and I didn’t want to go to university, it didn’t feel right.

“I prefer learning by working with my hands, I don’t really like studying in a classroom and writing loads of essays.

“Not all of my friends would do it but it works for me.”

Jake learns from technicians, some of whom started as apprentices themselves, and goes to Slough for one-week training courses to learn the theory while being paid an apprentice wage.

“Once they see that I can do it properly they just let me get on with it,” he added.

The Dick Lovett business started with a handful of employees selling Honda motorcycles in Victoria Road in 1959.

The Dick Lovett Ferrari dealership – which is visible from the M4 and a flagship store among the company’s 12 official dealerships – opened in 2012 after a multi-million pound investment.

"We have lots of people who completed their apprenticeships years ago with Dick Lovett, who are still with us today – many of whom have gone on to become master technicians or senior managers," said dealer principal Matthew Beard.

“Our master technician Scott started here 13 years ago as an apprentice.”

Matthew also started out delivering newspapers to Peter Lovett, the chairman of the company, and did a work experience placement at the Porsche Centre Swindon after leaving what was then Wootton Bassett Comprehensive.

“Now I’m very proud to say that I’m the dealer principal in one of the largest dealers in Europe,” he added.

The open day is at the Dick Lovett Ferrari showroom on Saturday from 10am-1pm.