LKQ Academy in EV training increase to boost skills

18 February 2026  

LKQ Academy is increasing the number of places available on its electric and hybrid vehicle training courses by 50% this year to bolster skills available to the aftermarket.

The automotive training provider is adding 500 new places across its EV courses, bringing the total to 1,500.

LKQ said recent research from the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) found that only one in four (26%) UK technicians are qualified to work on EVs, with skills spread unevenly across the regions. It also found the number of technicians gaining an EV qualification in Q3 2025 fell by around 13% compared to Q1 of the same period.

The increase in availability reflects strong demand from technicians last year, with workshops looking to future-proof their businesses and stay competitive as the car parc continues to evolve. It also helps tackle the skills gap and ensures independent garages can confidently keep EV and hybrid work in-house.

The LKQ Academy offers EV training programmes at all skill levels. Among the courses available are the Level 2 and 3 IMI Award in Electric/Hybrid (covering routine maintenance activities, repair and replacement), the Level 4 Award (diagnosis, testing and repair of electric and hybrid vehicles and components), and the ‘Becoming an EV Workshop’ course, which prepares office staff and the workshop for electric vehicle servicing.

Lee Chapman, head of support and LKQ Academy, said: “The IMI’s research highlights a growing challenge for the independent aftermarket with EV capability still limited, unevenly distributed and at risk of falling further behind. If that gap isn’t addressed, more garages will be forced to turn work away or rely on third parties – and that’s not good for independent workshops or motorists.

“We have a responsibility to help close that gap and with LKQ Academy sites located across the UK, we’re able to bring EV and hybrid training closer to workshops in every region not just big towns and city centres.”

The UK’s independent aftermarket faces a similar challenge when it comes to ADAS, with two-thirds of garages lacking a technician qualified to carry out ADAS calibration and repair work, LKQ said.

To help address this gap, the academy offers a one-day IMI-accredited ADAS AOM230 course.