Halfords opens Dunstable training centre to boost apprenticeships
Halfords has officially opened its new training centre in Dunstable as it looks to expand apprenticeship and technical training for its autocentres business.
Operational since February 2026, the site will enable apprentices to take part in intensive training blocks before returning to the workplace.
Subscribe to TRBHalfords currently supports around 300 automotive apprentices across England, Scotland and Wales, up from around 30 in 2022.
The retailer said the role of the automotive technician is evolving due to electric vehicles, advanced diagnostics, and digitally enabled servicing, making the career increasingly technical. Thirty apprentices have already started training at the new site, with a further 60 expected to enrol this year.
Henry Birch, chief executive of Halfords Group said: “As the automotive sector changes, technicians need increasingly advanced technical skills, from electric vehicle servicing to diagnostics and digital systems.
“By investing in apprenticeships and practical training, we are helping to create high-quality career routes for young people while supporting the long-term skills needs of our business and the wider sector.”
“We are proud that our apprenticeship programme has grown so significantly in recent years, and we are keen to build on that progress. Dunstable will help us provide more consistent, high-quality training and strengthen the link between technical education and real workplace experience.”
The centre has an annual training capacity for more than 500 colleagues across apprenticeships and wider technical training.
Spanning 4,000 square feet, it includes a fully operational garage three vehicle ramps, a full MOT bay and tyre-changing equipment, as well as four-wheel alignment equipment, air conditioning equipment and tools for electric and hybrid vehicle servicing.
