AT SOUTH Essex College principal Jan Hodges is the boss – but at Grays Service Station she was just an apprentice.

Mrs Hodges abandoned her suit in favour of greasy overalls and steel capped boots for the day to try her hand at an apprenticeship in light vehicle maintenance and repair.

She took two wheels off a car, put new brake pads on and then put the wheels back on again, under the watchful eye of college student Grant Poole, 18, who is studying for his level three apprenticeship at the garage.

The activity was set up as part of National Colleges Week, and as the college offers more than 30 modern apprenticeships, Mrs Hodges decided to try her hand at one of them in Thurrock.

She said: “Obviously the apprentice learns a tremendous amount – Grant was telling me he can do absolutely anything on a car.

“So he gets the full range of experience and he’s learnt a tremendous amount while he’s been here.

“It’s been really great to get an insight into what the apprentices do.

“At the college, we’re very well placed to offer apprenticeships because we have campuses right across south Essex in Thurrock, Basildon and Southend.

“We’re also very proud of the fact we’ve got the Training Quality Standard, so we know that the training we’re offering is of a good standard.”

Grant, who lives in Grays, gave his verdict on Mrs Hodges’s skills. He joked: “She’s hired!”