Rafal Tendera
Vehicle Technologies
Automotive Modern Apprenticeship
“Every mistake you make is just another stepping stone to mastering whatever trade you choose to study.”
Rafal completed an automotive apprenticeship through Station Garage in Mintlaw and NESCol, and aspires to work in the motorsports industry.
20-year-old Rafal Tendera was originally born in Psczyna, Poland. He lived in Goczalkowice with his parents and sisters until the age of two, when his family decided to relocate to North East Scotland.
Rafal left Mintlaw Academy in fourth year, after struggling with online learning during the pandemic. He was inspired to continue his education at NESCol, having enjoyed his time on a Schools-College automotive course.
He said, “I chose to come to NESCol after going through the Schools-College course and seeing how easy it was to apply to whatever course you decided on.”
Automotive Modern Apprenticeship
Rafal enrolled on the full-time Automotive Maintenance and Repair Principles course in 2021. He also began working as a mechanic part-time at Station Garage in Mintlaw to gain more experience on his days off from College.
Within half a year, Rafal’s employer was so impressed with his work that he offered him an exciting opportunity.
He said, “My boss approached me at the end of the workday and offered me the chance to start an apprenticeship working for him. Of course, I wasn’t going to say no to that!”
Rafal continued to study at NESCol on the day release programme as he worked towards his Light Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Modern Apprenticeship.
Four years into his apprenticeship, Rafal’s dedication and excellent practical work were praised at NESCol’s 2025 Go Celebrate! Awards, where he achieved a GMTT Apprentice of the Year award.
College and apprenticeship highlights
Rafal said, “I found that the lecturers were good at explaining and teaching us different topics.
“What I enjoyed most was getting to know my different classmates and their respective garages. These connections are important for work, as well as in College. I still speak to the other apprentices and keep in touch whenever I need to for work or other situations.”
Rafal’s favourite moment of his Modern Apprenticeship was doing an engine swap in a Ford Transit van when he was in his first year.
He said, “I had no experience and no instructions other than being told to disassemble it and remove it from the van. So that’s what I did!
“Surprisingly, I managed to get the van back together, and there were no issues with it following that. It just proves that even if you have minimal experience, if you can put your mind to something, take the time to do it right, and have patience, you can do anything.”
Automotive careers plans
Rafal recently completed his apprenticeship and achieved all the required qualifications. He is still happily working at the garage, and has some further professional development organised for later this year.
He said, “I plan on staying at the garage for a couple of years as I’m being put through my MOT course for cars in September this year. I am also on track to do the motorbike MOT course later down the line.”
Although Rafal enjoys his current work and would like to move up the chain, he has the ambition to one day use his skills in the motorsports industry.
He said, “I’ve been looking into a Motorsport Engineering course at the University of Leicester, as I spend my spare time tinkering with my car, as well as other people’s.
“I feel like it’s something I could do on a professional level, and I aspire to one day work in the Formula 1 industry, or in other motorsports, like endurance racing. I’ve enquired about careers with the Mercedes and McLaren Formula 1 teams, but I’m not ready to commit to moving away from my family and friends just yet.
“I’d even consider working in different engineering roles, be it on boats, planes, trains or anything else that drinks fuel and pumps oil!”
Advice to students
Rafal’s advice to other students is simple: don’t worry about making mistakes – use them as a learning opportunity on your journey.
He said, “If you want to succeed in something, don’t worry about the hiccups along the way, because every mistake you make is just another stepping stone to mastering whatever trade you choose to study.
“That mindset is what kept me moving forward – just knowing that no matter what happens, I can keep learning and getting better. That’s what you need to do, in work, life or anything else!”
Rafal also suggests choosing a career path that you’re passionate about, rather than being driven by pay.
“I don’t think you should choose the careers that pay the most; you should go and do what you enjoy the most. This will eventually pay off with enough experience and time, and open plenty of doors in the future should you ever decide to go in a different direction.”
Study automotive courses at NESCol
At NESCol, you’ll work on real vehicles with specialist equipment in our automotive workshops, with courses led by industry-experienced staff.