Rhys Jones began his journey with Thatcham Research in June 2010 as an Apprentice Paint Technician. Driven by a passion for art, design, and cars, he found the perfect entry into the automotive industry through our apprenticeship programme. 

Then: starting as an apprentice, he gained hands-on skills and knowledge, achieving his Advanced Body Refinishing qualification and ATA Accreditation. His dedication led him to assist the crash department, eventually becoming a Crash Research Technician.

Now: today, Rhys is our Testing Operations Manager, leading the crash team, overseeing test schedules, and ensuring compliance with safety regulations.

Rhys' story

"I joined Thatcham Research in June 2010 as an Apprentice Paint Technician, driven by my passion for art and design, which I nurtured throughout my school years. My fascination with cars—particularly their mechanics and innovative designs—also played a significant role in my decision. I believed that a paint apprenticeship would provide the ideal entry point into the automotive industry.

Not being particularly academically inclined, I found school and college challenging. I realised that an apprenticeship was the best path for me to acquire essential hands-on skills while earning a wage. I thoroughly enjoyed my paint apprenticeship, which included several block releases at Thatcham Academy. During this time, I gained the vocational skills and knowledge necessary for the role. After two years, I proudly achieved my qualification in Advanced Body Refinishing, along with my ATA Accreditation.

Almost a year after completing my qualification, I was offered the opportunity to assist the crash department in obtaining their EuroNCAP accreditation. Following a six-month secondment in the Crash Laboratory, I decided to advance my career at Thatcham and was appointed as a Crash Research Technician in February 2013. This role challenged my skill set and allowed me to develop engineering abilities beyond what I thought possible. After two years, I was promoted to Lead EuroNCAP Technician, and another year and nine months later, I was again promoted to Crash Engineer. My knowledge in passive safety expanded significantly, and I took on more senior responsibilities, including serving as the main test lead, managing customer communications, overseeing test day tasks, positioning crash test dummies, performing EuroNCAP assessments, and leading the testing team in delivering barrier testing requests. My responsibilities also included data report writing, maintaining barrier test equipment, and managing sled testing deliverables.

Two years later, I was invited to assume the role of Senior Engineering Lead (Passive Safety), which I viewed as a significant step forward in my career. This opportunity allowed me to further enhance my management skills and deepen my expertise in the field. Earning the trust and respect of my team, I took on additional responsibilities as a line manager for the crash team. This encompassed budget management, equipment maintenance and calibration, test scheduling, and ensuring compliance with health and safety regulations in the crash lab, all while maintaining my previous duties. 

Reflecting on my career journey, I recognise that the hard work and determination I invested in each task have paved the way for my success at Thatcham Research. My advice to anyone starting their career as an apprentice is to consistently demonstrate willingness, respect, self-reflection, and a drive for continuous improvement. With dedication, you can achieve anything you set your mind to".