Garage chain upskills to meet EV demand

11 January 2022  

Undertaking EV training for staff has enabled Elite Garages to keep up with growing demand across its 14 sites. At least two technicians from each site were sent to Autotech Training, to complete their IMI Level 3 Electric/Hybrid vehicle training.

Training and Development Co-ordinator for Elite Garages Josh Whittemore observed: “Over the last seven months, we have seen a significant uplift in calls from customers for electric vehicle repairs and general advice. We selected the number of vehicle technicians from each site to receive the EV training, based on the density of EV sales within their local area. For instance, due to a high number of Tesla sales within Bournemouth, four vehicle technicians from that site were trained.”

Autotech Training offers Level 2 to Level 4 IMI electric/hybrid vehicle courses either from its EV training suite within its Milton Keynes headquarters, or on-site at the garage. A number of two-day IMI Level 3 courses were carried out within Elite Garage’s headquarters in Partridge Green, West Sussex during November.

Mandla Ndhlovu, Training Delivery Director for Autotech Training, added: “We cannot lose sight of the fact that these are high-voltage vehicles, and, as an industry, we have a duty of care to ensure people have the necessary skills and knowledge to work safely on, or around EVs. Employers will also find themselves liable if an untrained employee is injured while working around an electric vehicle. While dealer groups have been pushing EV training for some time throughout their networks, it is encouraging that so many independent garage businesses are being proactive and getting prepared for the inevitable rise in demand.”

For more information, visit www.autotechtraining.co.uk