LKQ Academy to upskill another 1,000 technicians in hybrid and EV by Christmas

Date: Tuesday 15 August 2023

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Leading training provider LKQ Academy has committed to upskilling another 1,000 technicians in servicing hybrid vehicles (HVs) and electric vehicles (EVs) by the end of 2023, as part of its continued focus on futureproofing the independent aftermarket.

The pledge follows a successful 12 months for the LKQ Academy, in which it’s trained more than 2,000 technicians in hybrid and EV servicing, maintenance and repair. And it comes as GIPA data reveals that one in two drivers have changed their repairer since purchasing an EV.

Bob Wiffen, Workshop Solutions Director at LKQ Euro Car Parts said:

“The direction of travel on hybrids and EVs is clear – around half of all new cars sold now are plug-in, up from one in 10 vehicles in 2019.

“And although many of the newest vehicles will be maintained by their dealership to start with, there are plenty of hybrids in particular that are in their fourth and fifth years of ownership, and that are coming into the independent aftermarket now.

“Garages that act fast to upskill their workforce will retain their loyal customers as they upgrade to newer, cleaner technologies – at the same time as attracting hybrid and EV drivers from the competition.”

The LKQ Academy is also launching a number of new courses to help the independent aftermarket get hybrid and EV-ready.

Available at several locations including Doncaster, Tamworth and Southampton, ‘Becoming an EV Garage’ is a new two-day training course that starts with an overview of the plug-in market in the UK, before covering the advantages of tapping into this growing sector of the market, and how to make hybrid and EV servicing and maintenance a profitable workstream.

There are also two new practical courses now available for technicians who are already trained in level 4 and looking to become specialists in HV repair. One is focused on problem solving, analysis, diagnosis and repair for high voltage systems, with the second course focused on high voltage batteries.

Bob Wiffen added:

“Many drivers are entering into the relative unknown with their first hybrid or EV, and are carefully choosing which workshop to take it to. It goes without saying that investing in the right skills on the workshop floor is essential for garages looking to take advantage – but for that to really pay off, so is effective marketing.

“Garages that highlight their hybrid and EV expertise and capability on their websites and on social media are best placed to win the confidence of their customers, and with our help, can build their reputation as a local specialist in a market that’s only going to grow.”

LKQ Academy is the most comprehensive training platform in the automotive sector – providing quality, IMI-approved courses for all levels. It offers a free skills assessment to technicians looking to assess where they might need to top-up their training.

Individual memberships at the LKQ Academy start from just £649. A Platinum membership offers workshop customers access to 20 training days – across 25 locations – and 20 eLearning courses annually for just £2,499 a year, with no limit to the number of staff who can be trained.

For more information on the LKQ Academy visit: www.lkqacademy.co.uk.

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