Skill groups are divided as follows:

Skill area 1 : Installation of electrical and electronic equipment into mobile applications. (Includes installation of blue lighting equipment).

Skill area 2 : Panel wiring and loom construction. (Pre Production)

Skill area 3 : Vehicle climatic control (heating and air conditioning) installation

Skill area 4 : Installation of communication systems including logic controlled security systems IDR systems and other configurable devises.

Skill area 5 : Service (diagnostics repair and preventative maintenance) of skill areas 1-4

Skill area 6 : Designer/Drafts person

Entry Level Development :

Apprentice : Minimum of 5 GCSE at a-d
3 years block or day release, (auto electrician) scheme sponsored by the Manchester chamber of commerce.
2 Years as Improver developing competency in two of the skill groups listed (1-4)

Achieve Technician Grade : 2 Years developing competency in two remaining skill groups (including essential product training certificates)

Achieve Engineers Grade : Engineers that demonstrate leadership skills are escalated to Supervisor.

Technician : Technicians are AES’s specialists. They are normally recruited with experience in their specialist skill group but may be considered for training in other skill groups when opportunities arise. To develop with the organisation technicians would have to complete a formal vocational qualification (evening classes) sponsored by the business.
Time served auto electricians joining the business without experience in the four skill areas listed above remain on technician’s grade until competency is achieved in all areas.

Engineers : It is very unusual to enter the business as an engineer.

Specialist Engineers

Design/Drafts Person : Designers are normally (but not exclusively) engineers or technicians that have been sponsored through a CAD course by the company and are either taken from the installation department for projects on secondment or are permanent in this position.

Service Engineer/Technician : Showing an aptitude for diagnostics, members of this team work remotely from the business supporting the products installed. Off site installation work is normally completed by this team. Because of the specialist work completed and the security implications members of this team are exclusively recruited from inside of the business.