£15m skills funding boost critical to get 75,000 more technicians EV-ready

Government urged to boost employer funding for skills training

£15m skills funding boost critical to get 75,000 more technicians EV-ready

The Institute of the Motor Industry urges government to bolster employer funding for skills training 

The British Motor Show will showcase the best, the fastest and the most innovative in automotive technology this weekend. And electrified vehicles will take centre stage. But data from the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) clearly shows that the automotive retail sector does not currently have the skills and the pipeline of talent needed to service and repair electrified vehicles to keep the nation moving safely. The last eighteen months have only served to put the sector into reverse in getting itself EV-ready.

Faced with the potentially fatal consequences of an inadequately skilled workforce, the IMI is repeating its plea for the government to commit funding to support EV skills training. It is suggesting a £15m boost would play a critical role, contributing towards training for up to 75,000 technicians

In the context of the £1.9bn investment committed by government in the 2020 Spending Review to supporting the transition to zero emission vehicles for charging infrastructure and consumer incentivesii , the IMI believes this is a modest figure. It would make a significant difference, particularly for the independent sector which doesn’t have the training budgets of the manufacturer franchise network and faces being left behind, with the result that consumers will have less choice.

“It is tremendously exciting to be involved in this weekend’s British Motor Show where the best in class in our sector will be on show”, said Steve Nash, CEO of the Institute of the Motor Industry. “But whilst the show will provide a real buzz for the future of electrified motoring, there’s no getting away from the fact that there are still some big hurdles to overcome to meet the government’s 2030 deadline for the ban of the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles.

“With just 6.5% of the automotive workforce currently qualified to work on electric vehicles there is a gaping chasm in the availability of technicians. And that chasm not only presents a safety threat for those who may risk working on high voltage vehicle systems without appropriate training and qualifications; it also means the premium on skills could add to costs for motorists, creating another, unnecessary deterrent to the switch to EV.

“The government has committed £1.9bn to tackling consumer uptake and charging issues. We are asking that £15m is set aside for employers to access to support their own investment in skills training to get their workforce EV-ready. This will be particularly important for the independent sector.”

“Working on any form of electrified vehicle requires a completely different set of skills to those needed to work on a petrol or diesel vehicle”, added Steve Nash. “Without those skills, serious injury or death is a very real prospect. And we’ve got just over 8 years to have a sector that is EV-ready.” 

“The British Motor Show will illustrate that this is a tremendously exciting sector to be working in with the new technologies – Electric, Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and Connected – becoming more widely accepted by motorists. But while there’s a scarcity of those with the skills, motorists will be concerned about being able to get their vehicle serviced or repaired; and whether they might have to pay a premium for that service.”

“The government wants the adoption of EV to continue at a pace – the investment in EV charging needs to be matched by an investment in EV skills training to help employers ensure the workforce is EV-ready and electrified motoring doesn’t come at a premium.”

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Home Page Forums £15m skills funding boost critical to get 75,000 more technicians EV-ready

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  • #216113 Reply
    Stuart Woolley
    Moderator

    The Institute of the Motor Industry urges government to bolster employer funding for skills training  The British Motor Show will showcase the be
    [See the full post at: £15m skills funding boost critical to get 75,000 more technicians EV-ready]

    #216116 Reply
    Meat-Head
    Guest

    Err excuse me the official documents on imi website mentions
    “Less mistakes” so they can GTF, the self serving self centred money grabbing fuds.

    The tools, insulated socket set £200+ just coated in one plastic, how do you get the nut off the bolt anyway.

    Every staff member of Imi should be all forced to do something on an fully electric car. Measure the voltage to the motor for a start. They wanted them, read the terms and conditions of signing up to their website, they can GTF, as for that Karen Lesley Woolley, followed me on twitter then instantly blocked me for no reason at all, then refused to talk to me on the phone.

    As for letters after names, you should earn them not pay for them
    Still not found on imi website why electric cars are environmentally friendly!
    Just tailpipe emissions your saving and as a cyclist (guy with wig still got my license), no end of folks cross the road and not look.

    So no, Meat-Head-Motors will he disbanded if forced to join imi
    Not bothered, can retrain to be window cleaner or road sweeping, dog poo bin
    Emptier, young enough to change job, besides this locking of obd ports needs knocked on the head.

    Meat-Head BPB BSC OHPEF CPA FET RSAL2x4

    #216118 Reply
    belinda teasdale
    Guest

    Try cutting working tax credits and benefits so people are more encouraged to go back to work instead of sponging from the tax payers

    #216119 Reply
    Peter
    Guest

    The IMI talk rubbish. The training is there for those that require it and the uptake will happen as it is required. EVs are very safe the IMI are just trying to increase there profits as usual.

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