DCG Success Stories

Opening his own garage is a dream come true for former Derby College motor vehicle student Tommy Featherstone.

Tommy, who has been passionate about cars since childhood, completed levels 2 and 3 in motor vehicle maintenance at the Roundhouse a few years ago.

Now 29, he recently opened Tommy’s Motors in Shardlow – his own automotive business selling cars, repairing them and carrying out MOT tests.

Tommy’s love of cars began when, as young boy, he’d spend hours watch his dad fixing them. As he got older, he learned how to do repairs himself, and when he was just 15, his parents gave him £100 to buy a VW Polo to restore.

After leaving school in 2009 with A levels in business and economics, Tommy looked for a Motor Vehicle apprenticeship but struggled to find one due to the recession.

He said: “I had various jobs at garages – not all of them great. That’s when I thought I’d be better off going to college full-time and getting my Motor Vehicle qualifications so I could open my own garage and work for myself.

I enrolled at Derby College to take level 2 in Motor Vehicle Maintenance, then moved on to level 3. What I learned at college was really useful. It helped to shape the direction I’ve taken.”

Tommy enjoyed the course and liked the hands-on aspect of working on cars.

He added: “We had the opportunity to work on customers’ cars in the Johnson Building and I was asked to do this a few times so the lecturers must have thought I was fairly competent!

“Also, having level 2 and 3 qualifications helped a lot when I was applying to become a qualified MOT tester.”