DCG Success Stories

Former Lexis and then motor vehicle student Farrukh Ul Hafeez loves anything to do with cars.  

So, joining the staff in Derby College Group’s own garage as a clerical and support assistant (CSA) has seen him come full circle in pursuit of his perfect job.  

He said: “I was at Derby College for four years as a student, and I’m still at the college now, only this time I’m there helping the tutors and supporting the students with their practical learning.”  

Farrukh came to Derby from Pakistan in 2019 and took DCG’s Lexis course, the full-time programme for 16 to 18-year-old learners whose first language isn’t English.  

After telling his Lexis teacher that he “wanted to do anything with cars”, she helped him apply for his Level 1 motor vehicle course, and from there he went on to complete Levels 2 and 3. 

In his CSA role, Farrukh works with new motor vehicle and Level 2 students, assisting them with their practical learning as they practise on scrapped vehicles.  

He added: “We have 20 students working on cars at the garage, which is over two floors. I’m upstairs, where we have seven cars, so obviously that means a lot of people for the tutors to look after, especially if the cars are jacked up.  

“As someone with a Level 3 diploma, I’m well qualified in motor vehicle safety to support the students. I help teach them and support them in any way I can.  

“I had an uncle who worked with motor vehicles, he was the one who first put a love of cars in my heart.  

“He sadly passed away in 2022, but I’m now doing the same thing for my younger brother Ali as my uncle did for me. Ali is 13 and loves cars, so I’m passing on what I know to him.”