Newtown College has been offering Electric and Hybrid Vehicle training since early 2020 after a pioneering move by Newtown College Motor Vehicle department to keep with the changing needs of the automotive industry.
These part-time courses are industry recognised and were introduced with the support of Welsh Government for specialist equipment and Personal Learning Account (PLA) funding. The introduction of the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) courses Level 1- 4 came after recognition of a need for Motor mechanics and related tradespersons to become industry competent, to meet the needs of the growing popularity of electric and hybrid cars.
Many of those who have completed the courses are from local businesses. One of which is Martin Stevens from Electric Classic Cars (ECC) in Newtown.
Martin has completed Level 2 and Level 3 of the ILM Awards and now sits on the safety board of the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI). Martin explains that the training was essential for his role as senior Electric Vehicle Technician at Electric Classic Cars, a local company that turns classic cars into electric vehicles giving them a new lease of life and making them road fit for the 21st century.
The company whose notoriety grew quickly following its success in car conversions and appearances on TV shows such as Guy Martins: The World’s Fastest Electric Car and Fully Charged, as well as having their own show Vintage Voltage, which features the ECC mechanics tackle a range of classic car conversions now employs a team of 15 staff.
ECC are committed to having all workshop staff Awarded the IMI Electric and Hybrid Vehicle training.
CEO Richard Morgan said ‘This training is imperative for our members of staff. Like any qualification, it provides a level playing field of knowledge. The content covered in the course reinforces the awareness of safety standards required when working with high voltage equipment. We are lucky that the local college and lecturer Dan Prichard were forward-thinking enough to react quickly to the training needs of the industry’.
Dan Pritchard, Lecturer said ‘the course is open to anyone interested. It starts with basic vehicle and safety awareness at level 1, maintenance and repair at level 2, Level 3 would be for those working on low voltage systems carrying out diagnosis and repair, and level 4 is for high voltage system diagnosis and repair’.
He went on to say ‘It’s great to support the local workforce like Electric Classis Cars and to help others prepare for a move away from petrol and diesel to electric and hybrid. We have not just had onsite training but have also been involved in virtual training to International interests such as our recent collaboration with delegates in India. After all, lowering carbon emissions is of worldwide interest and the focus on electric and hybrid vehicles is one of the largest changes seen in the Automotive industry in over 50 years.’
If you are over 19 and are currently living in Wales you could be eligible for a FREE course under the Welsh Government Personal Learning Accounts (PLA) funding. We can discuss funding with you upon enquiry.
For more details about PLA and Motor Vehicle courses at NPTC Group of Colleges visit www.nptcgroup.ac.uk or Call our Business Development Unit, Karen Harris-Vernon on Tel: 0800 013 2544 to book on to the Electric and Hybrid Vehicle training course.
