Electric vehicle skills gap tackled with new training academy
Valeo Tech Academy has launched in the UK to help bridge the growing electric vehicle skills gap.
The new training platform includes 50 hours of content addressing electric and hybrid vehicle repairs. This covers safe handling of high-voltage systems, advanced diagnostics and troubleshooting.
Meanwhile, a further 25 hours of training focuses on ADAS-related repairs.
Andy Swann, Managing Director at Valeo Service UK, said: “Through Valeo Tech Academy, we are offering tailormade solutions to prepare mechanics to diagnose and repair electric vehicles and those equipped with ADAS.
“Valeo Tech Academy will provide training covering all automotive systems and brands, not just Valeo products. This will ensure a comprehensive learning experience across the entire automotive landscape. Individual sessions last between five to 30 minutes. This means mechanics can learn at their own pace and at any time of the day. The programme also includes pre- and post-assessments to ensure measurable skill improvements.”
Electric vehicle skills gap
The launch comes after the IMI warned the UK could face a shortfall of 16,000 trained EV technicians in 10 years, with just 24% of the UK aftermarket workforce currently EV-qualified.
Alongside online training, the Academy will also deliver one-day face-to-face sessions on ADAS and EVs. Training will be carried out on simulators allowing mechanics to engage in over 150 real-life repair scenarios.
Swann concluded:
“In workshops, 60% of time is spent on diagnostics, yet many assessments are too slow or inaccurate, leading to driver dissatisfaction and lost productivity. Our new simulator-based training enables mechanics to quickly identify issues and sharpen their problem-solving skills, leading to faster, more accurate diagnoses and improved workshop efficiency.”
