Logistics UK has partnered with the City of Bristol College and SMB College Group in Leicestershire to help address the skills shortage in electric vehicle technicians, and has announced the latest series of course dates for a nationally recognized qualification in working safely on electric and hybrid vehicles.
The IMI Level 2/3 Award in Preparing Heavy Electric/Hybrid Vehicles for Repair is a two-day course accredited by the Institute of Motor Industry (IMI) and has been designed to give technicians the knowledge and skills to work safely on electric and hybrid heavy goods vehicles while carrying out repairs and testing.
The Logistics UK Electric Vehicle Training Programme is intended to help address the predicted shortfall in EV-qualified technicians which, according to IMI, will be 16,000 by 2035, as well as futureproofing the workforce as the country transfers to alternatively powered vehicles.
David Jordan, deputy director of operations at Logistics UK, said, “The new government pledged in its manifesto to restore the phase-out date of 2030 for new cars with internal combustion engines, so the need for skilled EV technicians has become even more pressing. Both City of Bristol College and SMB College Group’s Stephenson Campus in Coalville are excellent modern facilities that provide the ideal environment and technical equipment to help develop the workforce of tomorrow, and we are delighted to be working with the colleges to host such an important program for the HGV market.”
Paul Dancer, director of curriculum at SMB College Group’s Stephenson Campus, added “We are excited to be working alongside Logistics UK on this vital project to address the skills gap within the vehicle engineering industry. It is essential that education providers are linked in to these opportunities to support the industry with upskilling their current workforce. It is also vital for us to ensure that our curriculums are carefully designed so that our learners are educated appropriately to support the future requirements of the industry.”
The new vocational qualification is a two-day course and, following a successful assessment, provides technicians with a nationally recognized award and the practical skills required to work on heavy electric and hybrid vehicles including buses and coaches. Technicians interested in taking this course must possess appropriate heavy vehicle maintenance and repair knowledge and skills at Level 3 or equivalent.
Luke Reid, head of the motor vehicle and DAF apprenticeships department at City of Bristol College, said, “City of Bristol College is very proud to be supporting Logistics UK in the delivery of the level 2 and 3 Electric Vehicle courses at the college. The motor vehicle department works closely with the automotive industry and is acutely aware of the shortage of electric vehicle technicians nationwide. Being able to offer flexible dates around the college timetable and help train the current and future workforce is extremely rewarding as it means the college is actively part of the solution. As we look to diversify our own college provision in the future, delivering these courses also enables the college to strengthen its links and partnership with Logistics UK, which is an invaluable source of information and advice. Together we can work to meet the skills requirement for electric vehicle sales and the potential reintroduction of the 2030 ban on the sale of traditional combustion engine vehicles.”