Meet Ewan, 20, from south London and find out more about life as a motorbike mechanic at a company called Ace Classics. Part of our Bitesize world of work series.
Ewan
Hi, my name's Ewan Burgess. I'm 20 years old and I'm a motorbike mechanic. I work for Ace Classics in south London and we restore and do servicing and repairs on classic motorcycles. My stepdad always had old cars and bikes and seeing him rebuild and restore them has always been a big inspiration to me.
What I like about the job is being able to get so hands-on with motorbikes and learning a lot off the old mechanics here as well.
I felt at a bit of a loose end after school really. I found a taster day at college in Tonbridge. As soon as I did the taster day at the college, I instantly signed up for the Level 3 extended diploma. That was in Agriculture Engineering and it was such a well-rounded course – we did welding, engine building, loads and loads of things and that's what really took me from school to work.
After college, I printed off my CVs to take to race meetings.
Ewan's boss\ Ewan found us when we were at Goodwood Revival. We race a couple of classic race bikes there. He came over to us and asked if we had any jobs.
He's getting better and better all the time at the mechanics and he's got enthusiasm for the classic vehicles and the whole thing that goes with it. So Ewan is sort of the perfect guy for us.
Ewan
Recently I've been working on this bike from 1969. It came in having problems starting, problems running. In the background there is a replica of what Steve McQueen would have ridden in The Great Escape.
Ewan's boss
He's very particular in a job. He likes to make sure the job's done right. He takes his time, he wants to learn and he wants to work. So that's really good traits to have in a mechanic.
Ewan
My job is most definitely my passion and to be able to work on something like this with such nice people is a real privilege.
My job is most definitely my passion.
- Ewan grew up loving classic cars – his first car was a 1957 Austin A35
- He developed his knowledge beyond cars by completing a Level 3 Extended Diploma in Agricultural Engineering where he learnt about tractor engines
- The company Ewan works for specialises in vintage motorbikes. He services engines, completes repairs and talks to customers.
Another name for a motorbike mechanic is a motorcycle mechanic.
What to expect if you want to be a motorcycle mechanic
- Motorcycle mechanic average salary: £18,000 to £30,000 per year
- Motorcycle mechanic typical working hours: 38 to 40 hours per week
What qualifications do you need to be a motorcycle mechanic?
You could get into this role via an advanced apprenticeship, a college course, or by applying directly if you have relevant experience. College courses include a Level 2 and Level 3 Diploma in Motorcycle Maintenance and Repair Competence or a T-level in Maintenance, Installation and Repair for Engineering and Manufacturing (England-only, from Sept 2022).
Sources: LMI for All, National Careers Service, GOV.UK
This information is a guide and is constantly changing. Please check the National Careers Service website for the latest information and all the qualifications needed and the GOV.UK website for more on T-levels.
For careers advice in all parts of the UK visit: National Careers Service (England), nidirect (Northern Ireland), My World of Work (Scotland) and Careers Wales (Wales).
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