The need to attract more people into the industry is a constant challenge that demands a huge amount of time, money and effort to tackle. It means making sure that a new generation of talent sees the automotive sector as an industry that fits their goals. It does, but we definitely need to shout about this more.
And while we’re looking to attract new people, we also need to look at other areas, as it’s not just the young who can help automotive succeed. The government is looking at how to get older people into apprenticeships so they have a pathway to a new career.
Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt is currently considering a shorter type of apprenticeship for the over-50s that will help people retrain and re-enter the workforce. This move is part of the government’s plan to strengthen economic growth and address the issue of out-of-work adults, as well as support the 50% of school leavers who don’t go to university.
Automotive is a diverse sector with roles for everyone, and capturing the imagination of people, no matter what their age, is key to its success. And the apprenticeship scheme is a core component.
If there’s a question you’d like us to answer, email james.scoltock@thinkpublishing.co.uk
08 IMI membership
Five benefits that IMI membership delivers to help you succeed
10 Ten in ten
Staying up to date with the stories you need to know but may have missed, from upcoming altercations with China to a surge in driverless traffic
12 Recession ready
The economy has been hit hard in all directions and everyone is feeling the squeeze. MotorPro finds out how businesses can protect themselves from financial pressures and how they could even grow
18 Inside an independent
Discover how Colin Denton is driving the next generation of automotive talent into the industry at North London Garages GTA
28 Hydrogen skills
The world is talking about battery electric, but there are other fuels on the horizon. Hydrogen is coming down the road so it’s time to update your skills
38 Technical walkaround
Video Genesis is aiming to shake up the sector with its mix of luxury electric vehicles and a new direct-to-customer sales approach. MotorPro looks at how it all comes together with an in-depth look at the GV60
40 How to spend the Apprenticeship Levy
There are funds out there to help businesses employ apprentices, but not enough SMEs are accessing them. Find out how to get your fair share
47 IMI Skills Competitions
Podcast Every year the gauntlet is thrown down to apprentices to enter the IMI Skills Competitions. An organiser, a sponsor and a former winner explain why you really need to sign up
50 The drive of my life
The IMI’s registered member engagement officer, Gemma Armstrong takes us across the US as she recalls heading down Route 66 to get married in Las Vegas
70 The IMI community
The latest news and updates from your IMI _ IMI members who have passed away
72 My motoring inspiration
Automotive may not have been Siti Abdullah’s first choice, but she’s accelerated her career and is now Brembo’s UK & Ireland key account manager. And she isn’t stopping there…
55
68 Tech Talk
The IMI Fanshaws, Brickendon, Hertford, SG13 8PQ Tel: 01992 511521
MotorPro © 2023
ISSN: 1742 5204
Editor James Scoltock james.scoltock@thinkpublishing.co.uk
Art Director
Ian Findlay
Managing Editor
Sam Upton
Content Director
Matthew Rock
Client Engagement Director
Kieran Paul
Executive Director
Jackie Scully
Advertising
Matt Hall 02037 717257 matt.hall@thinkpublishing.co.uk
It’s time to book your Annual MOT Training and Assessment before the deadline passes. But it doesn’t have to be a yearly trauma. The IMI has worked hard to make sure the MOT Training and Assessment is simple and straightforward to help you stay qualified.
Opinions expressed in articles do not necessarily represent those of the Institute of the Motor Industry. The publishers cannot accept responsibility for claims made by manufacturers, contributors, advertisers or readers.
Members of the Audit Bureau of Circulations
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Deciding which MOT Training and Assessment approach to take can be challenging, so you can choose from three packages: Training-only, Assessment-only, or a combined training and assessment package to help you to pass first time. Put simply, it makes picking the right package easy.
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Book your Annual MOT Training and Assessment with the IMI today
The IMI has partnered with insurance company Stubben Edge to offer you a growing range of insurance products. Established in 2018, Stubben Edge is a market innovator in the financial services sector, and has created an accessible marketplace for multiple groups and associations to make buying financial services easy. Through their hub you can get quotes for:
• Motor gap
• Scratches and dents
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• Motor breakdown
• Motor breakdown for taxis and driving instructors
• Multiple appliance
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With easy-to-follow online customer journeys written in plain English, Stubben Edge can also assist in sourcing bespoke insurance solutions for more specific requirements. You can also contact their call centre for additional help and support.
To find out more, head to tide.theimi.org.uk/imi-connect/ members/imi-insurance-hub
As an IMI member, you’re part of a vibrant community of automotive professionals and benefit from access to an exclusive package of career support, CPD, content and networking opportunities, all designed to help you develop and succeed
If you have completed an EV-related course in the past but don’t have the recognition of IMI TechSafe ® then now’s your chance. Whether you gained your IMI EV qualification recently or a while ago, there’s an avenue in place to help you receive the recognition you deserve.
Go to the IMI’s website to find out how to start your TechSafe® journey and stay up to date with the latest developments
THE IMI: EVERYTHING WE DO, WE DO IT FOR YOU
_We develop people and careers
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To find out more about taking advantage of your IMI membership, visit theimi.org.uk/membership
We work closely with all the fantastic IMI Centres in the UK and internationally, ensuring they stay at the heart of the IMI community. To help our Centres get the most out of being part of the IMI, its community platform, IMI Connect, is your single sign-in portal that puts learning and information tools in one place. The IMI Connect dashboard provides all the information you need, a one-stop-shop that includes:
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Log in to explore the dashboard, forum and resources, and send any comments using the feedback tab
The IMI offers a range of courses, both via eLearning and in-person, to help keep your career on track and give you the skills you need to take the next step. Many are free to members. So if you want to know more about the motor trade, how to use equipment for the best results, learn more about advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), on-board diagnostics, health and safety, along with so much more, we have the content for you.
Find your ideal course
Speaking with reporters at CES back in January, Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares warned of an upcoming “fight” with China if European regulators failed to take action. Tavares told Germany’s Automobilwoche that, due to regulations that make EVs 40% more expensive to build in Europe, Chinese cars are much cheaper than European models, and the only solutions were changes to trade policy or moving factories to more favourable locations.
Mercedes-Benz plans to drop the ‘EQ’ badge from its electric and hybrid models in 2024, according to German industry newspaper Handelsblatt. Launched in 2019, the EQ range distinguished the manufacturer’s plug-in models from its internal combustion cars –a distinction that becomes more redundant as boss Ola Källenius accelerates the brand’s transition away from fossil fuels.
Toyota is putting its hydrogen fuel cell powertrain into its legendary pickup truck, the Hilux. In a project partially funded by the British government through the Advanced Propulsion Centre, Toyota Motor Manufacturing UK is leading a consortium to build a proof-of-concept fuel-cell Hilux at the company’s plant in Burnaston, Derbyshire. For more about Toyota, hydrogen and the skills you’ll need in the future, head to page 28
Huawei is understood to be mulling a foray into the automotive industry, with a memorandum of understanding signed between the controversial Shenzhen Corporation and Chinese battery giant CATL. Huawei is said to be planning its own “global high-end automotive brand” using CATL technology, although it’s not clear how a Chinese brand removed from telecoms infrastructure projects will be able to win over Western regulators with a car.
Scottish EV start-up Munro has unveiled its first model, the MK_1, which will go into production this year. Taking aim at the emerging ‘electric off-roader’ market, the cartoonishly cuboid MK_1 has some commendable mud-plugging credentials thanks to its traditional ladder chassis format and 141-mile maximum range. Munro says the car will be designed to last up to 50 years with the correct maintenance.
The Russian automotive industry has been badly damaged by the war in Ukraine, with sales down by almost 60% in 2022. Sanctions have forced domestic manufacturers to find new supply chains, Western companies have pulled out entirely and economic uncertainty has inflated retail prices and reduced consumer demand. Chinese and Iranian manufacturers may move in to absorb whatever is left.
The energy consumed by the computer systems of self-driving cars is poised to become a new frontier in carbon emissions. In modelling trials by researchers at MIT, a global fleet of a billion autonomous vehicles driving for an hour every day would have the same carbon footprint as every data centre in the world today. Significantly more efficient hardware will need to be developed to ensure sustainable growth in autonomous vehicles, showing how complex the road to zero emissions really is.
Electric lorry manufacturer Tevva has received European approval for its 7.5 tonne truck, and has begun high-volume production at its factory in Tilbury, Essex. Customers including Royal Mail and Travis Perkins will be among the first to receive the vehicles, which are capable of travelling over 140 miles on a single charge. Tevva plans to build 1,000 trucks in 2023.
Civilian cars destroyed during the invasion of Ukraine were transported to Finland for Helsinki’s annual ‘Lux’ light festival last month. Called ‘The Physical Possibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living’, the sobering artwork was composed of a series of wrecks illuminated from the inside, each accompanied by a story about the car and its owner.
The DfT has predicted that driverless cars could massively increase congestion on UK roads if they become commonplace, as car travel will no longer be the preserve of adults with full licences. Between 2025 and 2060, traffic is expected to worsen by 85%, subject to autonomous vehicles making up half the country’s fleet by the year 2047. However, the DfT added that people in driverless cars might be more amenable to long queues as they’ll be able to concentrate on something other than the car in front.
the uk economy stagnated towards the end of 2022, narrowly avoiding recession. This year, financial powerhouse Goldman Sachs forecasts a 1.2% contraction as the cost-of-living crisis continues to depress incomes.
A downturn presents both opportunities and challenges for business owners. Graze, Poundland and JD Sports were all started during a recession. And what works in other industries can be applied in automotive, so there’s hope for everyone running a business that you can not only survive but succeed.
Here are eight ways to recession-proof your business to help it weather the current economic storm.
The UK economy isn’t great at the moment. Many businesses are struggling, but there are ways to shield yourself from the fallout. MotorPro looks at the best methods to protect your business and even help it grow
WORDS_ REBECCA BURN-CALLANDER
When the economic outlook is challenging, business owners need to take a long, hard look at their cash position. Sir John Timpson CBE, who turned his eponymous chain of cobblers into a household name, says: “It’s always a good idea to presume that there will be problems ahead, so keep your business tight. Don’t wait to have a cost-cutting campaign.”
Every couple of years, the Timpson management analyses every part of the business to see where the fat can be trimmed, so challenge yourself and your team to reduce expenditure by 30% to see what ideas emerge. Sir John advises comparing your cash position today with the same day last year. “If it’s lower, you’re losing money,” he says. “Never mind what the company accounts look like, if you have less cash, you’re losing money. It’s important to get the basics right if you want to survive a recession.”
Are you owed money? Are there any repeat offenders on your books? Carl Reader, serial entrepreneur, business adviser and author of Boss It, warns that now is the time to weed out the bad payers.
“Use your industry knowledge, check your historical transactions with customers, and even pay attention to gossip,” he says. “If you get wind of a bad payer, they need to go.”
However, before axing too many customers, check that your payment process is as robust as it can be. “Can you go to them before
the debt is due and remind them to pay?” asks Reader. “If a payment is late, get in touch to tell them, then email or call every day. Consider using an external credit controller if you don’t want to do it yourself.”
Reader also says that now is the time to review your business model and try and get payments in the form of recurring revenue, such as subscriptions, or at least get some money up front. “Could you charge a deposit?” he asks. “I have a subscription model in my business and it brings certainty to our forecasting.”
03
ADDRESS SKILLS SHORTAGES
“The skills shortage will be with us for the long-term,” says Julian Jack, senior membership manager at the IMI. “We’re facing the biggest gap in vacancies for the last 20 years in the automotive industry.”
A recession may encourage more people to return to work, but they may not have the skills your business needs. “Employers need to get planning now,” says Jack. “Now is the time
04
BET ON YOUR MOST SCALABLE GROWTH CHANNEL
Review all the ways that you win new customers and bet big on your number one channel. “Go all-in,” advises Eric Partaker, business coach and former head of business development at Skype. “For example, if you typically generate leads through events, are you attending enough of them? If you identify new leads through cold email outreach, are you sending enough emails?”
05
STRENGTHEN SUPPLY CHAINS
to create apprenticeships and upskill your workforce. Look at the trends that will impact your business. Are your people trained in EVs, the latest windscreen technology or body repair techniques? If not, this is the time to invest.”
The IMI has created a Return on Investment (ROI) Calculator to help business owners analyse the potential impact of hiring an apprentice.
A recession can really test your supply chains. Before problems can arise, audit your partnerships and ensure that the businesses you trade with are robust and resilient. When was the last time you checked in with your supplier and had a frank conversation about their pain points?
The IMI’s Julian Jack also recommends reviewing all your contracts to check you’re getting the best deal. Have your costs gone up? Could you negotiate better payment terms? “Tomorrow is for those who prepare for it today,” says Jack. “If you start to prepare now, you can recession-proof your business, and the IMI is here to help.”
“ NO W IS THE TIME TO CREATE APPRENTICESHIPS AND UPSKILL YOUR WORKFORCE” JULIAN JACK, IMI MEMBERSHIP MANAGERStare masters: (l-r) Sir John Timpson CBE, Carl Reader, Eric Partaker
How iVendi uses digitalisation to transform businesses and boost success
Since 2009, iVendi has been digitally transforming the way vehicles are bought and sold, uniting online and showroom sales processes into a single, seamless vehicle-buying journey.
At iVendi, we make motor retail easier for everyone, and our cutting-edge technology is used by around five million consumers every month alongside thousands of motor retailers, manufacturers and finance providers.
We are the acknowledged market leader in our sector thanks to a concept we call Connected Retailing. Our solutions link together the consumer, retailer and lender to create an experience that meets and exceeds the expectations of even the most demanding digital customers. In essence, we connect all the complex pieces of vehicle sales into a single, userfriendly experience that helps consumers buy the vehicles they want while keeping retailers and finance lenders in control at every step of the sales process.
“We believe the best way to help dealers is to make it easier for customers to buy their
vehicles, not just online but in the showroom,” says James Tew, CEO of iVendi. “Today’s customers are omni-channel, making use of both digital and real-world interactions with the retailer as part of the car-buying process. We make it possible for these customers to follow the exact buying journey they want to create.”
“Against this background,” continues James, “we provide dealers with the tools to define these journeys, delivering easily adopted, cost-effective technology that makes it stressfree to set parameters that meet the needs of their business and maximise the productivity of their sales team. There are thousands of dealers across the UK and Europe who can attest to the ways in which Connected Retailing helps them drive forward their businesses in a practical and measurable manner every day.”
The right solution for businesses and customers
One of these dealers is Draytons, a widely respected car dealership based in Acton, South London. Established for more than 20 years and an iVendi customer
• The iVendi platform helped our retail partners make over £2.1bn in vehicle sales.
• We’ve helped retailers sell over £34m of value-added products (VAPS), including dealer guarantees, warranties, paint protection and much more.
• Over 480,000 finance applications were submitted through the iVendi platform to more than 24 financial lenders.
ENGAGE is designed to help consumers find the right vehicle by rewriting the rules for online car, van and motorcycle search using the natural language adopted by the majority of vehicle buyers.
CONVERT facilitates the process of transforming initial online consumer interest in a vehicle to a sale through a range of essential features.
—
“We didn’t need to do much research in choosing them to support our strategy as we knew after only one month’s trial that CONVERT and TRANSACT were right for our business and our customers. We are very happy with everything we do through iVendi and love the streamlined customer processes they’ve allowed us to create, so would happily recommend them to other dealers.”
The ideal business partner
TRANSACT develops online consumer interest in a specific vehicle through to a final transaction while managing the complexities of the sales process. This includes iVendi’s innovative Digital Deal.
since 2017, Draytons uses the CONVERT and TRANSACT products from the Connected Retailing range, which play an important role in helping the company meet evolving carbuyer needs.
“Over the years, iVendi has given us a huge amount of help and support,” says Draytons sales manager Jamie Prest.
Established in 2007, Herts and Essex Van Sales are a familyowned business specialising in vans and other light commercial vehicles. Joe Dickins, sales manager, says there’s direct evidence that iVendi is helping to drive his business.
“Probably the best metric we use is that lead-to-customer conversions have improved, and I think that will grow further,” he says. “More simply, our sales have increased. iVendi’s products are brilliant for our customers, giving them an effective route to purchase rather than having to come down to the showroom and do the deal in-person. I know that we will be able to achieve what we want with iVendi’s help.”
For more details visit www.ivendi.com, email enquiries@ivendi.com or call 0345 226 0503
06
The businesses that thrive during a recession sell the products or services that their customers can’t live without, so why not co-create a solution with your best customers, asks Partaker. “When it comes to business and product development, it’s easy to focus on acquiring more customers instead of creating more value for existing ones,” he says. “Spend time with your existing customers to really understand their pain points then design solutions that solve them.”
07
DON’T SLASH ALL YOUR MARKETING
In a recession, marketing and PR spend is often the first thing to go. Carl Reader warns that this could risk damaging your business in the future. “Business owners often panic and try to take costs down to a bare minimum, but there are buyers out there during a recession, and you may have rivals that are better capitalised who will overtake you.” He recommends getting rid of the ‘nice-to-haves’ such as website redesign and focus on the marketing that generates real ROI.
08
At Timpson, every member of the team is assessed on their skill and enthusiasm. Only the people who achieve seven out of 10 or more keep their jobs. “We always say goodbye to the drongos,” explains Sir John. A “drongo” is a worker who would rather not be at work and saps the morale of everyone around them. This approach may sound harsh, but it makes for a really strong and nurturing workplace culture. “You make life better for everyone when you get rid of these individuals,” says Timpson.
As the UK hurtles towards recession, it’s never been more important to ensure that everyone on your team is engaged and hard-working.
For more help with running a business and the full range of IMI resources, go to www.theimi.org.uk
“ B USINESS OWNERS OFTEN PANIC AND TRY TO TAKE COSTS DOWN TO A BARE MINIMUM” CARL READER, ENTREPRENEUR & AUTHOR
“ I T’S EASY TO FOCUS ON ACQUIRING MORE CUSTOMERS INSTEAD OF CREATING MORE VALUE FOR EXISTING ONES” ERIC PARTAKER, BUSINESS COACH
“ I T’S IMPORTANT TO GET THE BASICS RIGHT IF YOU WANT TO SURVIVE A RECESSION”
SIR JOHN TIMPSON CBE, BUSINESS OWNER
Colin Denton has a real passion for training and giving the next generation a chance. It’s why he’s determined to make North London Garages GTA the best learning environment possible
WORDS_ JOHN CHALLEN IMAGES_WILL AMLOT
hen he started out in the automotive sector, Colin Denton might not have expected to become chief executive of such a well-established business as North London Garages GTA. But his enthusiasm has seen him turn around the once-troubled business and he continues to focus on growth and ensuring that a steady stream of vehicle technicians enter the industry. His passion has also put him on our TV screens as part of the new UKTV documentary series, Classic Car Garage, on its top factual channel, Yesterday.
How did your journey into the automotive sector begin?
I’ve had a fascination with cars ever since I was young. The secondary school I went to had a motor vehicle department and my teacher there, John Williams, was crazy about vehicles. He was head of my house, a brilliant teacher and my mentor for many years. So by the time I’d left school, I already had a GCE in Motor Vehicle Mechanics! While I was at college I also attended night school in preparation for my apprenticeship, which I eventually completed at University Motors, a British Leyland dealership.
How much did your apprenticeship teach you about the business?
They were the best four years of my life. I absolutely adored it and I’ve never laughed so much as I did then. We had about nine or 10 apprentices in one workshop and, while there was plenty of camaraderie and teamwork, we were all competitive and keen to be top dog. The experience really helped feed my passion for cars.
However, I got bored with mechanics and afterwards got into car sales, because I realised that I wanted to do something more than just being a mechanic. From a very young age – 15 or 16 – I’d wanted
to get into training because a member of my family had trained with Rolls-Royce Bentley, then went on to train people to be mechanics for the local authority.
What route did your training journey take after your apprenticeship?
When I first started out, I was told that I would need at least 10 years’ experience because my teaching would come from what I’d learnt along the way. I worked in sales and mechanics, learning lessons and remembering the experiences. Along the way I set up a business with a technician I had trained with at University Motors, which was hard work, but very enjoyable. That experience taught me a lot of lessons, including the realisation that I was trained in one particular make of car – British Leyland. So when somebody brought in a Toyota, for example, it was a whole new learning curve.
I also went back to college to get a City & Guilds qualification and then a HND to bring me up to speed with modern cars. My breakthrough came at Skillnet Automotive Academy, where I worked my way up and was eventually put in charge of the apprentice programme. Over time, I increased the number of apprentices on my programme from 180 to 1,400 – it was
the largest programme for apprenticeships in the country.
After a while, I joined another company that got sold and I found myself out of a job. After a few months sitting on the sofa, I got a call from North London Garages, who I’d known through previous work I’d done in the industry.
What was your original remit at North London Garages?
The business wasn’t in the best place when I arrived and had hit hard times. It was still operating the same way it had done 20 years before, and training – and everything else – had moved on. When I turned up, all the staff had disappeared because the business had run out of money. I had a meeting with the chief executive in December 2012 and he told me he had to retire due to ill health and wanted me to take over – with hardly any money.
I had to have a serious think about it – for about five minutes! But I agreed and my predecessor and I worked for a few months going through the accounts and everything else to prepare to turn the business around. We’re a community provider that works in
Light fantastic: North London Garages GTA now has over 100 apprentices
the community, for the community. If we walked away, the kids there would have no motor vehicle training provision because no one wanted them. This was our chance to do something for them, and we continue to do that more than 50 years after the business was established.
How does the business compare now to when you took over?
We were delivering up to 10 courses in the automotive sector, but now the number is down to two. So we’ve lost the majority of them, but we’ve also seen a major change in the way the industry is structured. We’ve also seen a change in the values of young people when it comes to motor reuse, and there aren’t as many people tinkering with cars as there were back in my day.
We have about 100 apprentices on board now, which is more than we had in 2012, but we’re up against some big challenges. So many training places have closed down through lack of interest and/or funding. In London, for example, we’ve lost the ability to train anyone who wants to learn about bodywork – whether through college
“WE’RE A COMMUNITY PROVIDER THAT WORKS IN THE COMMUNITY, FOR THE COMMUNITY. IF WE WALKED AWAY, THE KIDS WOULD HAVE NO MOTOR VEHICLE TRAINING PROVISION”
“THE BUSINESS WASN’T IN THE BEST PLACE WHEN I ARRIVED AND HAD HIT HARD TIMES. IT WAS STILL OPERATING THE SAME WAY IT HAD DONE 20 YEARS B EFORE AND TRAINING HAD MOVED ON”
or a garage – because all the places have shut down. There’s high demand from employers, but close to zero demand from younger people.
What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learnt from running the business?
Tolerance is one. I can tolerate many more things these days and I’m much calmer. Therefore I can listen and project what could potentially happen in the future. Another one is not to hark back to what you did 20 years ago, because teaching, training and assessment moves rapidly. I’m more open to change because it comes all the time and we need to embrace it. It’s also important to get others to see what you can see.
The green agenda is here, whether we like it or not, and how we embrace it is important. I never used to worry about saving the planet – I’m a city kid. But now I go on about it all the time! The use of fossil fuels is unsustainable and we need an alternative. I’m not sure it’s electric, but I may not be around long enough to see what the alternative is.
What are your goals for the future?
The plan is to continue with our apprenticeship programmes and grow the number of Level 2 and Level 3 apprentices. We’ve just had a very successful Ofsted inspection, which is reassuring because it means our apprentices are receiving the best possible training. I’d like to reach 170 apprentices and we have some exciting plans to help make that happen.
How did the IMI help with your ambition to run a training centre?
In the early 1990s, I made the biggest decision of my life: to get involved with training young people. I did another apprenticeship because it was going into an area I had no idea about or experience of, so I needed to learn. I spent quite a lot of time at the IMI between 1995 and 2000, and the people there were absolutely brilliant. They could see that you were new and they nurtured you. I had great external verifiers that came in and supported me, helped and gave me that encouragement that I needed to continue. That meant a lot to me.
The IMI’s Professional Register is an industry-wide database of professional individuals recognised for maintaining their knowledge, skills and competency. To find out more, go to www.imiregister.org.uk
For a full list of the IMI’s accreditations, which provide proof of current competence for an individual’s automotive abilities, go to www.theimi. org.uk/learn/accreditation
Battery electric vehicles might have grabbed their largest ever share of the UK new car market, but their long-term rival for the clean fuel crown is gaining ground. Do you have the skills to work on hydrogen-powered vehicles?
WORDS_ NEIL KENNETT
a commons science and technology Committee report recently concluded that hydrogen will play a “specific but limited” role in decarbonisation across all industries. In terms of transport, it highlighted bus networks, but a growing number of vehicle manufacturers see far greater potential and are investing heavily in both hydrogen tech and cutting-edge training. Take that battery electric!
On the very same day the Commons report was published, Stellantis outlined plans to acquire a stake in Symbio, a Faurecia Michelin company specialising in fuel cells. This makes sense given its plans to offer large hydrogen-powered vans by 2024. “This move will foster the speed of development to bring low-emission products to our customers beyond traditional electric vehicles,” said Stellantis CEO, Carlos Tavares.
Two weeks earlier, Toyota Motor Manufacturing UK (TMUK) announced that it was leading a consortium backed by the UK Government via the Advanced Propulsion Centre to build a hydrogen fuel
cell version of the iconic Hilux pickup.
“We started the design and development work last summer, and in 2023 we’ll look towards building our first prototype,” explains Katherine Chamberlain, senior manager for new product development at TMUK. “We’re targeting five or six vehicles this year, which will help us prove the concept and grow the business case for future production.
“We’re working with Ricardo, who is supporting us to fast-track the development, as well as two SMEs, ETL and D2H, who are supporting us on the specialised areas of thermal and cooling management. Thatcham Research is also supporting us on serviceability and repairability, creating a fuel cell vehicle training programme for workshops, as they have done for EVs. It’s a really exciting project to lead.
“We’re fully committed to fuel cells, particularly for larger vehicles, because of the advantages in terms of range and refuelling time, but we’re also pursuing hybrid, plug-in hybrid, battery electric and hydrogen combustion, keeping all options open.”
To prove this commitment, outgoing Toyota president Akio Toyoda drove a hydrogen combustion engine Corolla in Japan’s Super Taikyu endurance races last year under the pseudonym Morizo!
“Fundamentally, the fuel cell is where we’ve got this experience advantage, and it’s something we’d like to make mainstream,” continues Chamberlain.
“The training package will be ready and available by the end of this year, with different levels for drivers, repair centres
and the emergency services.
“For us at TMUK, moving to hybrid was a major leap, but early feedback suggests that hydrogen is not such a huge transition for those who have already done the hybrid introduction – more of an onward step. There are certain unique aspects that technicians need to be aware of, mainly around safety, cleanliness awareness and leak checking. Importantly, this project will not only help to upskill the companies directly involved, but also our wider supply chain, which is really positive.”
From the Thatcham side, head of repair
sector services, Dean Lander, adds: “While electric vehicles are leading the volume race towards the UK government’s Road to Zero strategy, it’s important to recognise that electrification isn’t the only game in town. Many more car makers are experimenting with, or have brought to market, hydrogenpowered vehicles.
“The skills required to repair and reinstate all powertrains, traditional and new, are fundamental to the realisation of Road to Zero. And we believe that high quality training for the automotive aftermarket – which is built upon the vehicleled research we are conducting as part of the consortium – will have a significant role in providing assurance that the shift from ICE can be delivered successfully.”
As you’d expect, the IMI is setting the standard in hydrogen training. “Our IMI TechSafe ® initiative ensures that individuals in the automotive sector have the skills to deal with new technologies,” says Mark Armitage, head of membership products and services at the IMI. “It initially focused on EVs, then expanded to include ADAS, and now we’ve added hydrogen. It’s linked to our professional register, so anybody with a relevant qualification who has proven competency in that technology is able to have publicly available
TechSafe ® recognition.”
However, hydrogen isn’t just about cars. There are also commercial and agricultural hydrogen-powered vehicles, as well as motorcycles. More and more manufacturers are exploring how it can help them to phase out fossil fuels.
“Fuel cell vehicles are similar in many ways to EVs,” says Armitage. “They’re driven by electric motors but use hydrogen to create the chemical reaction that generates the electricity. Other manufacturers, JCB for example, are using hydrogen to power more conventional ICE engines, burning hydrogen in an engine combustion chamber.
“Our new Level One Hydrogen Awareness course caters for both. It’s all about the different types of hydrogen vehicles, the risks associated with them, and basic safe working, including refuelling. For technicians with EV training, that step up should be reasonably straightforward. Those that have still not engaged with EV technology will need more support.
“The Level One qualification will serve a number of purposes, not just for vehicle technicians, but also for salespeople and first responders. We’ve had a lot of dialogue with the blue light services to upskill those attending road traffic accidents. We’re also working closely with the roadside rescue services. The way hydrogen burns is very different to petrol – fast and odourless with an almost invisible flame – so that’s a big challenge.
The Level One course has just gone live at a handful of training centres, and the IMI expects rollout to follow a similar pattern to their EV qualifications. Just before the pandemic there were around 100 centres running its EV courses; today there are 270.
“Level One is going to add a lot of value, and Levels Two and Three are just being finalised,” explains Armitage. “They will focus on safely isolating and venting the system, and start to get into diagnostics and leak detection. Before Christmas, about 20 of my team, from product development and quality assurance to endpoint assessment, visited the Toyota Training Academy in Derby. Toyota are very much a pathfinder in hydrogen, so we’re working closely with them on things like diagnostic approach and leak detection.”
The IMI is also working with a range of partners on affordable hydrogen training rigs, continuing professional development (including methods and terminology), and emerging legislation. As we enter a pivot point in the industry, away from traditional combustion technology, it’s important to keep skills on point so you’re ready for any vehicle that may roll into the workshop.
— Take a look at the IMI’s courses to see where you can upgrade your skills –Discover your path to IMI TechSafe® recognition so you’re ready for a new automotive future
“ W HILE ELECTRIC VEHICLES ARE LEADING THE VOLUME RACE TOWARDS THE UK GOVERNMENT’S ROAD TO ZERO STRATEGY, IT’S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNISE THAT ELECTRIFICATION ISN’T THE ONLY GAME IN TOWN”
The automotive sector is integrating increasingly complex and advanced technologies to reduce emissions. At the same time, companies are investing more heavily in oil and lubricant development to ensure combustion engine vehicles – no matter what they are – perform to the highest levels. Jump inside a sector that keeps the industry moving.
Find out if you are entitled to upgrade your membership status with the IMI and get the recognition and opportunities you deserve
IMI members are accorded professional recognition based on skills and experience. It may be time for you to upgrade and be fully recognised for your expertise!
Have you completed a qualification since becoming a member and gained additional experience?
Are you interested in even more discounts and benefits you receive with IMI membership?
All it takes is for you to get in touch with the team to answer 4 quick and easy questions to potentially upgrade your member status. Be recognised for your experience and expertise with the IMI. Our purpose is your success.
UPGRADE MY MEMBERSHIP
Have your skills and experience changed? Tell us about changes to your job role and add any new courses to your account, you may qualify for an upgrade to your status. Login to IMI Connect or call the team now to discuss membership upgrades on 01992 519 025 or send an email to hello@theimi.org.uk
Using the wrong engine oil can have big consequences. Modern engines are built to very different design philosophies and increasingly tight tolerances, and an incorrect oil can block filters, poison catalysts, and even cause oil starvation. It’s vital that the owner checks the vehicle manual and uses the correct oil for the car. Castrol’s technical expert Pawel Mastalerek sat down to answer the most important questions about vehicle oil.
Is oil compatibility dictated by viscosity alone?
Different oil specifications will need different chemistries to reach the performance required. Some engines run at a higher temperature and need extra antioxidants and detergents to prevent oil breakdown and piston deposits. Others have exhaust after-treatment devices to reduce emissions, which will need lower levels of some additives to prevent blocking or poisoning. That’s why it’s vital that the right specification of oil for the vehicle is used. If you’re unsure, the Castrol Oil Selector on the Castrol website provides personalised product recommendations.
How can garages with limited storage space or businesses that want to
streamline their setup continue to deliver for customers?
Combi-products that combine many of the key industry and OEM specifications can help reduce the number of oils required. If you can identify the key specifications and viscosity grades that customers need, then they can keep larger drums of those in stock. Garages can contact the Castrol workshop team with specific challenges and Castrol will work with them to get the balance right.
Will engine oils become more bespoke as the industry looks to reduce CO2?
Thinner oils will help automotive manufacturers decrease carbon emissions. OEMs have historically utilised technologies such as smaller engines, direct-injection and turbocharging, which
put challenges on lubricants, such as avoiding low speed pre-ignition. We need to work closely with OEMs to develop the oils they need, which is why Castrol continues to collaborate with its OEM partners, including Ford, Jaguar, Honda, Land Rover, Volvo and Renault, to develop fluids that meet the automotive industry’s evolving demands.
Newer vehicles include a number of advanced technologies to reduce emissions. What would happen if a car was filled with the incorrect oil? An oil with the wrong viscosity could increase engine wear, and oil starvation issues can rapidly lead to catastrophic engine failure. That’s bad news. The simple fact is that thicker oils in newer engines will reduce the fuel efficiency
of the engine and may also cause oil supply issues.
Older oils with a higher Sulphated Ash, Phosphorous and Sulphur (SAPS) content and higher levels of additives can block filters and poison catalysts, shortening exhaust after-treatment device longevity. They could even cause the vehicle to fail air quality or roadworthiness checks. Specifically, gasoline particulate filters will be prematurely blocked if older SAPS oils are used instead of the correct oils.
How does the shift to increased ethanol content in petrol affect the engine oil, and do technicians need to change their approach?
It’s a fact of life that bioethanol levels are increasing in petrol as higher levels
of renewable fuels are required, but this isn’t a new occurrence. We know that E10 is widely used in Europe, so car manufacturers are aware of the issue and have developed compatible engines. European oil sequences and OEM specifications have included compatibility for E10 and beyond for some time now. It means that you can be confident that any modern highquality engine oil will be suitable for use with E10 petrol.
There’s a lot of talk about the impact of higher levels of ethanol on older vehicles. How are Castrol’s oil formulations upgraded to help cope with this change?
Castrol is at the forefront of technological development, introducing new products
and upgrading products to meet the latest specifications. New technologies are introduced into oils designed for older vehicles, but it’s possible because many OEMs include ‘back-compatibility’ in their specification design. This is where the new specification is also suitable to be used in older vehicles.
Are engine oil flushes always necessary? Are there situations where they can cause more harm than good? There’s no denying that an oil-based engine flush can be an effective remedy for neglected engines, or engines that have otherwise experienced a build-up of sludge. But there’s a caveat: Solventbased flushing products can damage seals and may cause permanent oil leaks, which is why Castrol doesn’t recommend them. A better approach is to ensure regular maintenance and use a high quality engine oil as a preventative measure.
A new product recently launched by Castrol, Engine Shampoo, is a pre-oil change treatment that contains a solvent-free Powerful Cleaning Agent (PCA) additive to deliver a deep clean without the possible negative effects. Castrol Engine Shampoo helps to maintain engine power and efficiency by dissolving and flushing out sludge during the oil-change process.
“CASTROL IS AT THE FOREFRONT OF TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT, INTRODUCING NEW PRODUCTS AND UPGRADING PRODUCTS TO MEET THE LATEST SPECIFICATIONS”
Genesis is a new name to European markets, but it’s built on success from around the world and the global brand of Hyundai Motors. It’s aiming to shake up the sector, not only with its first all-electric luxury car, the GV60, but with a directto-customer sales approach. MotorPro looks at how it all works
The Apprenticeship Levy is the gateway to bringing new talent into the industry and making businesses more successful. MotorPro explains the value of the fund, how to access it and, most importantly, how to spend it
WORDS_ SEB MURRAY
pprenticeships are an obvious answer to the escalating skills crisis that threatens to hold back the British motor industry. With an expected shortfall of 160,000 workers by 2031 due to retirement, migration and technology, apprenticeships have the power to deliver enormous benefits to the automotive industry, helping to boost the supply of skilled labour.
Yet many larger employers are forfeiting vast sums they have been forced to set aside
under the Apprenticeship Levy – a government initiative designed to boost apprenticeships. Under the levy, employers with an annual wage bill larger than £3m must set aside the equivalent of 0.5% of their payroll to fund apprenticeships in England. The companies can either spend the cash on an approved apprenticeship scheme or transfer a quarter of their levy pot to smaller firms in their supply chain. However, with a decrease in apprenticeships, much of the pot is being clawed back by the government under a ‘Use it or lose it’ clause. Any unspent money is taken
back after 24 months, with the total returned reaching more than £2bn since the levy was launched in 2017.
“The unclaimed levy pot is definitely a wasted opportunity,” says Frank Harvey, head of member services at the Independent Garage Association, an organisation that represents the repair sector.
“If levy-paying businesses are not utilising their pot, there should be a clear opportunity and messaging to make this pot available to smaller employers to encourage and provide them with the confidence that any apprentice they take on will be supported.”
A proportion of the unclaimed pot is redirected to fund apprenticeships for small companies that don’t pay the levy. These smaller groups can access the funds through a coinvestment scheme with the government. In 2019, the co-investment rate for small firms was reduced from 10% to 5%.
However, smaller firms aren’t making the most of this opportunity to boost their workforce at a lower cost. The latest figures from the Federation of
show that just 16% of small employers currently have an apprentice on their books, with the biggest barrier being administration costs
Non-levy payers contribute 5% towards the cost of training and assessing an apprentice, with the government covering the rest – up the funding band maximum. This amount is paid directly to the training provider. Larger companies can withdraw the funds they have paid into the levy to spend on apprentices, with the government adding an additional 10% on top.
However, the levy cannot be used to fund an apprentice’s wages. The current national minimum wage rate for an apprentice is £4.81 per hour for those in their first year of training or aged 16-18. There may also be additional costs, including time spent mentoring and managing apprentices, travel expenses and accommodation costs, while training providers may also charge recruitment fees.
For small businesses with fewer than 50 employees, there’s the small employer waiver. The waiver means that these businesses can take on apprentices aged 1618 at no extra cost, and also extends to apprentices aged 19-24 who have previously been in care or have a Local Authority Education, Health and Care Plan. In these cases, the government will pay 100% of the training costs up to the funding band maximum.
The investment in an apprentice can pay dividends, with the IMI’s own analysis showing that a Level 3 Automotive Maintenance and Repair Apprentice can deliver up to 200% return on investment within the three-year apprenticeship.
“Apprentices are a long-term investment in the future of a business and represent outstanding value,” says Frank Harvey. “Given the right support and training from the business and training provider, apprentices should not be viewed as cheap labour, but as a vital requirement to safeguard a business’s future.”
In addition, employers can get an extra £1,000 payment from the government to support younger apprentices in the workplace.
“Apprenticeships are an effective way to attract fresh ideas into a business, upskill the next generation, and give businesses the skills they need to grow,” says Tina McKenzie(below), policy chair at the Federation of Small Businesses.
“Encouraging more small firms to hire apprentices is key for productivity and economic growth, and the apprenticeship funding system was set up with small businesses in mind. Large firms pay the apprenticeship levy into their accounts, and then unspent levy funds can be used to fund small business apprenticeships.”
The levy is not working as intended, with a low take-up of the scheme. Only 713,000 people registered as apprentices in 2021, which is the smallest total since 2010.
“There are a number of influences,” explains Mark Armitage (below), the IMI’s head of membership products and services. “Apprenticeship starts were heavily impacted by the pandemic, which affected many industries. Then, just as we were seeing numbers grow as companies were climbing out of the pandemic, we saw further impact by the cost-of-living challenges.”
This is hitting the motor industry, which faces its biggest skills challenge in two decades. Apprenticeships would help to address the shortage in qualified electric vehicle technicians, as well as boost a workforce suffering from an aging population and decreased immigration.
However, many employers say the levy system is too bureaucratic and complicated. “The whole levy piece has been opaque from the beginning,” explains Frank Harvey at the Independent Garage Association. “In general, smaller employers are uncertain about how they would fund an apprentice and how the levy would work for them, if at all.”
Companies can access levy funds through the online apprenticeship service after creating a digital account.
“This allows businesses to see what funds they have available and how much is being paid in each month, including the government top-up,” explains Mark Armitage from the IMI. “It also allows them to allocate funds to put an employee on an apprenticeship with a chosen training provider.”
The levy pot can only be used to deliver apprenticeship training and assessment from approved providers, with the government providing an online list of organisations eligible to receive levy funding to train apprentices. Some employers have claimed that greater flexibility in what companies can spend the levy pot on would help to boost the uptake of apprenticeships.
“Apprenticeships should be made more flexible and agile to enable businesses to access less academic school leavers, who, unfortunately, are being left behind,” says Dean Lander (above), head of repair sector services at training provider Thatcham Research. “This in turn would help small businesses within industry supply chains to train people for their specific business needs and create a skilled workforce for future jobs.”
However, the FSB’s Tina McKenzie warns that expanding the list of things that large firms can spend this cash on would lead to a steep drop in funds available for small business apprenticeships. Either way, awareness among small employers about the benefits of paying for apprenticeships must increase if the motor industry is to plug its escalating skills gap.
“It’s a worthwhile investment in the development of people,” says Lander. “If you train people appropriately and use this time not only to help them develop skills but also create strategies for the application of those new skills to their work, the efficiency gains will pay for themselves.
“I firmly believe a levy scheme with greater flexibility is required, along with more assistance to enable large employers to work with their supply chains and encourage more apprenticeship starts. We urge the government and the industry to find ways to collaborate in making apprenticeships a positive and more supported experience for all.”
Ken Clark, managing director of Rotronics Battery Management Solutions, explains how data can generate cost savings and increase revenue for workshops, dealers and fleet managers through well-maintained 12V batteries
Why is battery management so important?
Whatever type of vehicle we discuss, the 12V battery is always the beating heart. If the battery is not in optimal condition, the vehicle won’t move – that’s why it’s so important.
All good battery management programmes should start at the beginning, whether that’s with the PDI, the dealership or importer, independent workshop or compound. It’s staggering to discover that less than 50% of vehicles entering workshops across all industry segments have batteries in a good state of charge.
As part of a proactive inspection process, technicians should be testing every vehicle entering the workshop as soon as it arrives. This gives maximum charging time should the battery need it. Allowing vehicles to run idle in an attempt to charge the battery will achieve nothing more than a surface charging of the battery, which can lead to a false battery test diagnosis if the surface charge hasn’t been removed during the testing process.
Do workshops take battery management seriously?
In general, workshops don’t regard the battery to be as
important as other vehicle components, with an attitude that the battery either works or it doesn’t. But we know that if a battery is maintained well then it will last for longer and perform better, saving the vehicle owner time and money.
If I was in a workshop, the first thing I’d do is test the vehicle battery and find out the maximum time required to fully recharge it. To avoid any downtime, I’d do this first, while carrying out the routine maintenance or service process. I’d use ROBIS, our web-based dashboard and reporting system to look at performance opportunities and examine my team’s test and charge activities. What gets measured gets managed, which means saving money through managing actions that arise through constant monitoring. If I need to generate revenue, I could also see what my opportunities and conversion rates are.
Through our industry-first online battery reporting system ROBIS and 5.4 million battery tests across a vast range of vehicle types, industry segments and workshops, we have gained an incredible amount of knowledge
about vehicle battery health.
The ROBIS system can tell us which workshops are properly managing their batteries and whether their tests are improving. For independent workshops, we can see if technicians are recording the data correctly and carrying out the tester’s instructions, as well as any revenue-generating opportunities there may be.
We also work with CV/Fleet managers and owners, as well as independent workshop and main dealers, to look at the considerable cost savings and opportunities gained from the data, ensuring that the batteries last longer and perform better.
What does the future hold for batteries?
The future of automotive is electrification and hydrogen. That pathway is already set, and cars and vans have a 2025 deadline to reduce their CO2 emissions by 15% from the 2021 baseline. By 2030, the target increases to 37.5% for cars and 31% for vans.
With electrification, workshop behaviours and general service processes will have to change. The 12V battery will become a real focus during electrification as it’s the one component that remains
constant in the maintenance programme. The application of batteries may change, but the management of the 12V and 24V battery set will be unchanged for commercial and passenger vehicles. Electrification will certainly not alter the need for continued battery management across all vehicle types and industry sectors.
What can industries do to prime early-career mindsets for a future of proactive battery maintenance?
Get on board with the importance of battery management – just because you can’t see what’s going on inside the box doesn’t mean that it’s not essential – and understand what the latest battery management technology and data gathering can do.
This smart technology can save or even make money for you, so looking seriously at the potential cost savings and the revenuegenerating opportunities is vital.
The applications of vehicles are changing, and we are now looking at endurance rather than cranking as a primary function of testing a battery. We need to ensure it remains at the forefront of any service programme and becomes a natural part of everyday workshop practice.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ROTRONICS BATTERY MANAGEMENT PROGRAMMES, CALL KEN CLARK ON 0121 514 0605 OR EMAIL INFO@ROTRONICSBMS.COM
Nominations for the 2023 IMI Skills Competitions are opening at the beginning of February. Your apprentice could be crowned the best of the best, gain invaluable experience and development, and showcase your company on a big platform! Nominate your apprentice to compete in this year’s competition and you won’t regret it!
Register your interest and be notified when nominations officially open!
The future of automotive will be built on the apprentices that enter the sector. Highlighting the amazing talent we have is key to encouraging more to take the apprenticeship route
In this exclusive podcast, MotorPro Editor James Scoltock sits down with three of the industry’s leading experts to find out what the IMI Skills Competitions mean to the entrants and why they are so important for the sector.
• Richard Hutchins, IMI competition manager
• Mike Massey, 3M global application engineer and gold medallist at the UK Skills Auto National Finals 2016
• Chris MacHardy, talent lead learning and development at Redde Northgate
The IMI Skills Competitions is key to highlighting the incredible skills the next generation has. So whether you’re an apprentice or a business, listen and find out why you need to be part of the 2023 event.
—
Discover how the IMI can help you to become an apprentice or provide an apprenticeship
Want to listen to more great IMI podcasts? Head to our PodBean channel for the latest content
’d always dreamt of driving on the iconic Route 66, so when I met my husband and we both shared the same passion for road trips, we decided that we just had to do it together. Getting married along the way was simply a bonus!
So, in 2012, we flew to Colorado and started our holiday there, skipping the first part of Route 66, which has now largely been taken over by cities or reclaimed by Mother Nature. The trip didn’t exactly have the best start; we missed our flight out of Colorado destined for Texas and the start of our road trip due to a mix-up with transfer buses. Our next flight was cancelled due to a snow storm. It wasn’t all bad as we were put up in a hotel, but our bags had already been checked in so we had nothing but our hand luggage.
The lady on reception was very understanding and gave us some basic toiletries, which we gratefully accepted. After she gave us all the basics, she asked me if I wanted a lady stick. I gave a little sideways glance to my husband, who looked equally puzzled, so I asked in a hushed tone, “What’s a lady stick?”. “I’ll show you!” she replied, and she reached under her desk and pulled out a roll-on deodorant. My husband and I giggled and sighed in relief, and I took the sample-sized freebie gratefully. I couldn’t help but laugh out loud when my husband then turned around and asked the lady if she had a ‘man stick’ for him.
We eventually made it to Amarillo, Texas on a tiny plane just three seats wide. The Texan dry air blew the plane all over the place and it was easily the worst flight of my life; that’s saying something as I’ve experienced engine failure, a plane being struck by lightning, and even a loop-the-loop! The lady sat next to me was terrified and, at one point during a particularly long drop, grabbed my hand. She didn’t let go until they turned off the seatbelt sign on the ground at the airport.
Things continued to work against us, as our hire car was gone and our luggage was delayed. We now needed to race to our next destination in a smaller hire car (we’d wanted a big American Chevrolet Tahoe
or GMC Yukon, but ended up with a Jeep Cherokee) as we were 24 hours behind our planned itinerary. We ate at the ‘Big Texan’, which is a restaurant that featured on the very first episode of the TV show Man vs Food. We ate at a lot of the restaurants featured on that show along the way, but didn’t try any of the challenges. After all the hurdles, the trip could start properly from here on in.
As the sun set we drove to the Cadillac Ranch, a public art installation. It was an amazing start to our trip. We sprayed our names on the cars and added to the everchanging artwork using the paint left there by previous visitors. It was the first time we had relaxed and enjoyed just being out on the road. It was so freeing. The sunset gave everything a warm red glow and it was lovely to look down the road and realise our dream of driving Route 66 was happening.
Our next stop was Las Vegas (no, not that one, the one in New Mexico) and then onto Arizona. This was my favourite part of the trip. Most of the roads were still there, although no longer maintained, so we could
“THE SUNSET GAVE EVERYTHING A WARM RED GLOW AND IT WAS LOVELY TO LOOK DOWN THE ROAD AND REALISE OUR DREAM OF DRIVING ROUTE 66 WAS HAPPENING”
stay true to the original route. The road was old and nature was finding its way into the cracks, and you could hear the rumble of the big rigs and semis on the parallel Interstate 40. But the painted ‘66’ on our road remained, as did the magic in the air, and we often found ourselves pulling over and getting out of the car just to look up and down the empty road thinking about everywhere we had been and everywhere we were about to go.
Lots of the shops in Arizona celebrated the history of the towns and how they had sprung up along the famous route, and it was here you could see where the animated cars would have been set in Disney’s Car films. We spent some time looking in the little touristy shops buying trinkets. It was lovely, but not as lovely as being out on the open road. We left the busloads of tourists to get back out on the tarmac and find as much of the original road as we could.
We reached the end of Route 66 in Arizona and carried on over the border to Nevada, which Route 66 doesn’t go through. We drove to Las Vegas (yes, that one) and stayed in the Riviera hotel, which has now sadly been demolished – although in utter Vegas style,
Snap happy: Gemma and husband-to-be get their kicks on Route 66, spraypainting old cars, enjoying Texan cuisine, and simply stopping and taking in the view
it was done in party fashion. There we were joined by family and friends so we could get married in good company.
The Riviera was one of the last old-school hotels from the Las Vegas Rat Pack era. Four years later, as the hotel was about to shut down, Matt Damon drove a SWAT truck through it in the film Jason Bourne The Riviera was also used for many of the scenes in The Hangover, and although the film tells us they stay in Caesars Palace, you can see the iconic ‘R’ of The Riviera on the blackjack tables when the Wolfpack gamble back their money.
The final leg of the trip took us through the Mojave Desert to get back onto the final part of Route 66 to Los Angeles. It was a sobering thought, knowing we were coming to the end of our trail, but we also couldn’t help thinking about all the people that had travelled along the same route we had, all those years ago across the Dust Bowl to make a new life in California.
If you’ve had a journey that has changed your life or made a lasting impression, email james.scoltock@ thinkpublishing.co.uk to feature in our next edition
In today’s fast-paced world, progress waits for no one, especially those in the automotive industry, where technology is advancing at a furious rate. Independent aftermarket workshops are under constant pressure to keep up with the latest developments in order to stay competitive and provide the best possible service to their customers.
With the increasing complexity of modern vehicles and the looming presence of the local main dealer, this pressure has become particularly intense. Dealer diagnostic tools and equipment have therefore become an essential part of every independent workshop’s toolkit. But as technology advances, these tools are becoming more sophisticated and require a higher level of technical knowledge to operate and maintain.
For independent workshops, this can be a significant challenge. Without proper training and support, keeping up with the latest developments, updates and software releases can not only be time-consuming and costly, but at times, impossible.
Another major pressure point for independent workshops is servicing electric vehicles (EVs). With the growing popularity of EVs, garages are seeing more and more of them, but many technicians don’t know how to properly service these vehicles. Training their workforce to work safely on EVs should be on every workshop’s to-do list.
As the number of EVs on the road is expected to increase, workshops that have already invested in EV training will be well-positioned to meet the growing demand for EV repair and maintenance services.
Workshops that fail to adapt to this new reality may struggle to stay in business.
Keeping up with the fast-paced automotive industry can seem insurmountable, especially when it comes to dealer diagnostics and the EV revolution. But it’s not all doom and gloom! By investing in relevant, in-depth training, technicians can gain the knowledge and skills needed to tackle the latest developments, enabling them to identify and diagnose problems quickly and effectively, saving their workshop time and money.
Based in Wrexham, the Automotive Training Academy (ATA) is a specialised training facility that provides unique brand-specific dealer diagnostic courses for a variety of manufacturers, written with the independent aftermarket in mind.
Candidates can choose from a range of courses in dealer tools
from manufacturers such as JLR, VAG, PSA Group, BMW Group and Mercedes. Our training is designed to provide independent workshops with the knowledge and skills they need to diagnose and repair the specific brands of vehicles they specialise in. Courses cover the tool’s operation, software updates, and range of capabilities and functions to ensure the technician understands how to use the dealer tools effectively.
ATA also offers Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Courses Levels 2-4 from the IMI, training that’s designed to provide workshops with the knowledge and skills
they need to safely and effectively diagnose and repair EVs. Recognised and accredited by the industry, the IMI accreditation helps the workshop build a reputation for being a trusted EV repair shop.
Our training takes place in Wrexham, Wales, where candidates develop skills in a friendly and supportive environment as they switch between the classroom and workshop, learning from our highly-experienced master technicians and trained trainers. Candidates complete the courses able to take their knowledge straight into the real world of the workshop and apply their new skills and knowledge immediately. With our unique offering of dealer diagnostics and IMI Automotive Training Academy, your workshop will be future-proofed, your technicians fully trained, and your business more secure.
Candidates complete the courses able to take their knowledge straight into the real world of the workshop and apply their new skills and knowledge immediately
With a professional business approach, strong processes and great online system, your pre-owned car sales business could really take off
Maintaining good mental health is a challenge we all face, and supporting your workforce has a number of benefits for your business
Taking your online security seriously will not only protect your digital devices and customer data, but help you comply with GDPR rules
Fire your passion for the inner workings of one of the engine’s most important parts and understand how it uses electromagnetism to turn the engine over
For many people, online car sales are the future. But it’s not as simple as building an e-commerce site, using a traditional sales approach, then waiting for the customers to come flooding in.
The move to online has been accelerating over the years, with retailers using digital platforms to complement showroom activity. The pandemic added extra impetus to plans and helped get through what could have been a disastrous period for franchise and independent car retailers, but challenges remain.
We may all work in the automotive sector, but we don’t all have the benefit of a company vehicle, which means we’re also consumers in the car-buying process. My own experiences
have been mixed, from first class to hugely disappointing. And that needs to change.
There’s no doubt that the majority of customers do their research at home, then decide which make and model suits their purposes. That’s in stark contrast to 10 years ago when a trip to the dealership was the way to get the wheels turning on a new or second-hand car purchase.
Having decided on a potential purchase, the process is different depending on whether the shopping list includes a new car or a pre-owned. For a new car there will be a car configurator on the OEM website and details of any accompanying finance offers. From there, the consumer
would either order online or be sent to their nearest franchise partner for further negotiations, including part-exchange value. But while lots of shiny websites make it relatively easy to buy new, what happens in the preowned market? This is where the pitfalls of an end-to-end online process may show up, often leading to a disappointed customer. Investing in systems and processes that fulfil the needs of an online customer will ensure that car retailers, large or small, can not only survive but thrive in this digital world. We have seen the disruptors lead the charge, but then been unable to make their financial offering work. Cazoo’s significant share price fall on the New York Stock Exchange illustrates the
difficulties, and has led to their withdrawal from Europe and a cutting back of their physical sites in the UK.
In contrast, the UK car retailers with established dealerships and available stock have been able to offset the logistical difficulties the disruptors have felt – a point that Constellation Automotive Group, the owners of cinch has realised, leading to the purchase of Marshall Motor Group, one of the UK’s largest car retailers.
Car retailers also have the benefit of seeing those customers who started their buying journey online but want to touch and feel their chosen car before going ahead, with the option to have a test drive. However, customer satisfaction can be adversely
More customers are buying pre-owned cars online. Get your approach right and digital sales could really accelerate your business
WORDS_PETER COTTLE FIMI
The IMI offer a huge range of electric vehicle (EV) training courses to ensure that you are qualified to work on electric vehicles.
Courses range from eLearning all the way to a Level 4 nationally recognised Qualification. It is not only passenger vehicles we offer training for, the training can be adapted for any EV, i.e. coach, bus, off road and range vehicles. Courses cover a range of topics, depending on your training needs.
Call 01992 519 025 or email hello@theimi.org.uk to enquire about courses now
Courses cover a range of topics, depending on your training needs:
• Introduction to electric vehicles
• Vehicle components and maintenance
• Diagnostics
• Control systems
• Hybrid vehicle courses
• So much more!
What are the benefits of completing an EV qualification with the IMI?
• Discounts for members
• Earn your IMI TechSafe recognition and gain your spot on the IMI’s Professional Register
• Stay one step ahead of your competitors
• Remain health and safety compliant
• Keep your training and CPD up to date with the EV revolution and avoid the skills shortage crisis
affected at the point where digital meets physical. The customer rightly expects that the dealership they have chosen online is totally up to date and aware of their digital journey and requirements. For example, is that car actually in stock at the dealership in question as opposed to somewhere else in the group? And is it fully prepared and available for a test drive?
There’s nothing worse for a customer who’s driven an hour or more to a dealership to be told that the car isn’t there, so the Distributor Management System (DMS) has to be constantly updated along with the website. Stock management is key, alongside a proactive sales team process that constantly monitors and actions online enquires.
One of the downsides of the online process, especially if the customer elects to do everything remotely and have the car
delivered or just collect it from the dealership, is that important profit centres for the car retailer – and useful products for the customer – can be overlooked.
Finance facilities is a big example, but this can be overcome with comprehensive and easy to understand details of each finance product on the website, with the customer having the ability to obtain a personalised quote and apply online. However, the features and benefits of products such as extended warranties, service plans, and paint/fabric/wheel protection also need to be prominent and easy to apply for.
Customers searching for a specific make and model with certain extras and a chosen colour will use a search engine, and often that car will be far away at a car retailer they don’t know. Therefore, creating trust and transparency from the very start is vital. Sadly, our industry is being unfairly tarnished by scam
online dealers who advertise cars that don’t exist, taking the customer’s money upfront and then disappearing.
Building trust is vital, and showing Trustpilot scores and positive customer reviews will help this, along with a number of other key ingredients:
• A fully functional website that looks professional and is easy to navigate. The ‘About us’ section is essential to give an indication of who the customer is buying from.
• A range of quality images, ideally a video, and both with a professional backdrop.
• A detailed description of the car and its history.
• An easy to use part-exchange valuation tool.
• Clear guidance on next steps and contact details for further information. A well-managed ‘chat’ tool can be helpful.
I would also suggest that, like mystery shopping in the showroom carried out by an OEM or third party, car retailers carry out regular checks of their online experience to find out which stages of the customer journey work – and which don’t. I have seen the highs and lows, and those experiences clearly influence future purchases.
Savvy car retailers can be very successful in the digital sales age as they have so many advantages to capitalise on. But if you want to be one of those businesses then you’ll need a great online system, strong processes, and professional teams to provide a seamless and professional experience for the customer.
Put these all together and when digital meets physical, both customers and car retailers are winners.
Peter Cottle is consulting director at finance advisory company Finativ
FIMI
“SAVVY CAR RETAILERS CAN BE VERY SUCCESSFUL IN THE DIGITAL SALES AGE AS THEY HAVE SO MANY ADVANTAGES TO CAPITALISE ON”
As the UK’s leading battery management solutions provider for commercial, PSV, fleet, and independent automotive customers, Rotronics develops highly effective battery testing and charging solutions that reduce unnecessary battery spend and improve warranty performance.
The experienced team at Rotronics works closely with a broad customer base, including businesses such as the RAC, AA, Royal Mail, Stagecoach, and Arriva, optimising battery performance, reducing battery costs, improving customer service, and boosting sales revenue prospects.
We work alongside customers to develop uncomplicated, successful electrical system and battery testing and charging processes that easily integrate into daily workshop practices.
Rotronics customers can extend their vehicles’ battery life using accurate diagnostic and positive battery maintenance,
pre-empting fleet failures before they can impact business. The experienced Rotronics Service and Repair Centre can handle a broad variety of battery tester and charger examinations and repairs, as well as conduct calibration and warranty work.
A partner of Midtronics and CTEK, Rotronics has a long and illustrious history, having become a division of Rozone Ltd in 2007, part of the Rubery Owen Group. Rubery Owen RO was a founding member of the automotive industry supply chain, leading innovations in automotive component technology from the early days of the motor car.
The managing director of Rotronics, Ken Clark, has over 30 years’ experience in the automotive industry, with the last 16 years specialising in battery management. He started his career with Unipart before moving to the RAC’s technical team and then on to Rotronics.
Ken developed the industryfirst diagnostic battery-testing
information portal, ROBIS, a web-based dashboard and reporting system. The portal receives data from Rotronics customer battery testers in national and regional workshops, then presents it in filterable reports, enabling you to analyse battery data quickly and easily. The portal now hosts over 5.4 million test results, allowing the Rotronics team to support its users by remaining highly proactive and informed on how their teams are managing and maintaining batteries in the workshop environment.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ROTRONICS BATTERY MANAGEMENT PROGRAMMES, CALL KEN CLARK ON 0121 514 0605 OR EMAIL INFO@ROTRONICSBMS.COM
Batteries are a critical part of any vehicle and a significant business cost, which is why Rotronics developed a suite of testing and charging solutions to extend their life for as long as possible
Rotronics customers can extend their vehicles’ battery life using accurate diagnostic and positive battery maintenance, pre-empting fleet failures before they can impact business
Gaining and retaining good staff is one of the biggest challenges in the automotive sector, and a more proactive approach to wellbeing could really help.
Mental health and wellbeing has risen to new heights on business agendas over the last few years, yet a lack of support in times of need is often cited as a key reason for leaving an employer. This not only causes the loss of good staff, but can make a real impact on the reputation of a company.
Automotive businesses are set up as diagnostic and fix-it operations – we work out what’s wrong with a vehicle and fix the problem. With mental health and wellbeing, that’s not so easy as the issues are complex and unique to each individual.
The other spanner in the works is we’re still a male-dominated sector and, on average, men tend not to talk about how they are feeling. The pandemic has also brought to light a large amount of evidence that many people are affected by mental health issues (not illness – that’s very different).
As a business owner, if colleagues aren’t coming to you and saying that they’re struggling then it’s easy to ignore the possible impacts of mental health and wellbeing. Let’s be honest, navigating a business is challenging enough. But before you park it as ‘not a problem’, take a look at the following stats:
• T he UK automotive sector employs 863,000 people.
• T he World Health Organisation suggests that one in four of us will report a mental health issue.
• T hat works out as a staggering 216,000 people in the automotive industry.
Even more alarming is the risk of suicide. According to ONS data, the suicide rate in Wales and England is 10.7 deaths per 100,000. Extrapolate that across the entire automotive industry and you can see how many people could potentially be at risk of taking their own life. Bear in mind that the rate of suicide is highest among men in the 35-50 age range.
Of course, suicide is an extreme example of mental health and wellbeing challenges, but please don’t assume this isn’t an issue in your business just because you haven’t experienced it yet.
Drawing up an action plan to help people doesn’t have to be daunting, and even the simplest of changes can make a huge difference. Here are four tips to help you and your business navigate this tricky area, especially if you haven’t had to face this challenge yet.
1. Speak up
Let your teams know that you’re aware of the challenges going on in the world, and as a leader/ employer you want them to feel they are supported.
2. Be vulnerable
You’re not immune to mental health challenges, and even if you’re doing fine, there will be people in your life that you know who aren’t. So be vulnerable and let the team know that you also have difficulties.
3. Shoulder-to-shoulder
Encourage your teams to
look out for each other and have informal, non-intrusive conversations that emphasise how supportive your business is.
4. Have fun
We all need more of this right now, so encourage people to enjoy themselves at work. However, one person’s banter is another person’s bullying, so encourage fun but within certain boundaries.
Link all of these with a culture that encourages psychological safety (people perform well when they feel good about themselves) and you have the building blocks for a business that can support its staff when times get tough.
Stephen Whitton is the founder of [M]enable, an organisation that raises awareness and takes proactive steps across the automotive sector to tackle mental health issues
You may think poor mental health doesn’t affect you or your staff, but that’s ignoring an important issue. It’s time to face the challenge
WORDS_STEPHEN WHITTON
If you’re holding customer data then you need to make sure it’s secure, so keeping your password as pa55word won’t hack it (although others might). Here’s how to get on top of your online security
It’s easy to think cybersecurity is just for large businesses, but almost 75% of small businesses are vulnerable and don’t have the expertise to withstand a cyberattack. If Microsoft, one of the biggest tech companies in the world, can come under fire, then we all can. And if that doesn’t scare you into doing something, nothing will.
Cybersecurity is the act of protecting electronic devices and online services from theft or damage by unscrupulous
individuals. This includes unauthorised access to laptops, computers, phones and tablets. You may, for example, have an online booking system for your customers or take online payments which involves collecting data such as credit card details – information that’s vulnerable to cyberattack and data breaches. Remember that most diagnostic equipment usually connects to the network and is very often overlooked.
Don’t give them your password Kenneth...
It doesn’t matter if you are a sole trader in a small garage or a large company with hundreds of employees, you must protect your business against cyberattack. This will not only benefit your business, but ensure you comply with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), since any form of customer data must be used in a way that complies with this regulation.
The UK GDPR applies to processing carried out by organisations operating
within the UK, as well as organisations outside the UK that offer goods or services to individuals in the UK. One area of cybersecurity that’s often overlooked is physical security, so keep your devices locked up when not in use, just as you do with diagnostic equipment and tools. Also, make sure all physical network connections, such as your wifi router, access points and network connections, are inaccessible to casual visitors.
Cybersecurity is vital for protecting your business from online threats such as theft, extortion and damage, and hackers may try to gain access to personal information or sensitive data to cause harm to your business. Of course, if your business is large and complex, you should seek expert advice, but there are a number of
relatively simple things you can do right now to keep the hackers out:
1. Keep regular backups of critical business data.
2. Ensure all software is up to date.
3. Implement a password policy.
4. Put procedures in place to protect you from fraud.
5. Only connect devices to secure networks.
However, recent research shows that only half of all businesses do all five of these tasks, with around a third connecting to unsecured wifi.
The criminals’ toolkit
A cyberattack is when a hacker tries to disable systems, steal data or destroy information by gaining unauthorised access to a computer system. The European Union Agency
for Cybersecurity list four common cyberattacks on small-to-mediumsized businesses:
1. Phishing – Fraudulent emails asking businesses to share passwords and information.
2. Malware – Software (a virus) designed to get unauthorised access and cause damage.
3. Malicious Insiders – Employees or former employees who have access to your system.
4.Denial-of-Service – An attack trying to overload company systems.
Having a good policy and strong defences in place will stop almost all of these cyberattacks. However, the technology and methods used to carry them out develops quickly, so it’s important to keep all procedures and defences up to date.
“A CYBERATTACK IS WHEN A HACKER TRIES TO DISABLE SYSTEMS, STEAL DATA OR DESTROY INFORMATION BY GAINING UNAUTHORISED ACCESS TO YOUR COMPUTER SYSTEMS”
Are your defences up to the task?
Whatever your level of cybersecurity, it’s always worth auditing your systems, so how many areas of this checklist can you tick off? Most are easy to implement and will significantly reduce the possibility of a cyberattack.
Identify which data you need to back up
Keep your backup separate from your computer
Consider using cloud storage
Regular process
Install antivirus software
Block unknown apps
Keep all IT equipment up to date
Control how USB drives and memory cards can be used
Switch on a firewall
Equipment
Password protection
Stolen devices
Keep your software up to date
Don’t connect to unknown wifi hotspots
Passwords
Switch on password protection
Use two-factor authentication (2FA)
Don’t use predictable passwords
Help staff cope with ‘password overload’
Change default passwords
Reduce the impact of a successful attack
Think about how you work
Check for obvious signs of phishing
Make sure all attacks are reported
Information that your business couldn’t function without Access to data backups should be restricted so they are inaccessible to staff and not permanently connected
A service provider stores your data on their infrastructure so it’s physically separate from your location
Make running a backup part of your daily business schedule
Check the software is switched on Prevent staff from downloading them
Check all software and firmware are the latest versions
One device containing malware could devastate your business
This creates a buffer between your network and the internet
Notes
Use a suitably complex PIN or password on all equipment
Ensure that any lost or stolen devices can be tracked, locked or wiped
This includes operating systems as well as apps
There’s no way to easily find out who controls them
Notes
Use a screen lock password, PIN or other method such as fingerprint or face recognition
It adds a lot of security for not much effort
They should be easy to remember but hard to guess
Don’t enforce regular password changes. Passwords only need to be changed if you suspect they are compromised
A common error is keeping the default usernames and passwords that devices are issued with
Notes
Configure staff accounts to the lowest level of user rights required for their roles. If they fall victim to a phishing attack, potential damage is reduced
How could someone target your business? Ensure your staff understand best working practice
Many frauds originate overseas and standards of spelling, grammar, punctuation and graphics are often poor
Encourage your staff to ask for help if they think they may have been a victim of phishing
Scare stories
I have two horror stories of businesses making it easy for them to be attacked. The first was while sitting in my car outside a garage. Looking at the available wireless networks, one was named p64ndf86gJD3tG9 and, you guessed it, this was also the password! If I could figure it out, it wouldn’t take a criminal very long.
The second story was when I was looking at a wireless router in a workshop, I noticed a Post-It note with the login details in plain view for all customers: ‘User = admin Password = pa55word’. D’oh.
The moral of these stories is to take cybersecurity seriously. In most cases, the steps you need to take are simple but very effective. And it’s not just for the benefit of you and your business that you keep on top of it, but also for your customers’.
Why should I care about GDPR and the Data Protection Act?
The Data Protection Act 2018 is the UK’s implementation of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) , which controls how personal information is used by organisations, businesses and the government. Everyone responsible for using personal data has to follow strict rules called ‘Data Protection Principles’, which ensure that the information is:
• Used fairly, lawfully and transparently
• Used for specified, explicit purposes
• Used in a way that is adequate, relevant and limited to only what is necessary
• Accurate and, where necessary, kept up to date
• Kept for no longer than is necessary
• Handled in a way that ensures appropriate security, including protection against unlawful or unauthorised processing, access, loss, destruction or damage
Put simply, if you’re holding customer data in any shape or form then you need to comply with GDPR, and part of that is protecting that data from malicious attacks.
What will increased cybersecurity requirements mean for those at the sharp end?
Manufacturers may require us to be qualified or licensed to practice in the area of connectivity and cybersecurity with respect to our business and the vehicles we work on. In time, there will be short courses presented by the IMI’s network of authorised centres, together with associated qualifications, as well as the introduction of a ‘Code of Practice’. The IMI team and a Sector Advisory Group are already starting the process of creating a Connected and Cybersecurity option for IMI TechSafe®, in the same way as for EVs and ADAS.
Find out more about IMI TechSafe® and make sure your skills are up to date
Pre-engaged starters are fitted to every modern vehicle, and provide a positive engagement with the ring gear as full power is not applied until the pinion is fully in mesh. The field windings on most car starter motors have been replaced with a permanent magnet, but the basic principle of interacting magnetic fields causing the motor to rotate is exactly the same. A typical car starter motor will have a power rating of about 1kW (for example, 100A at 10V), while larger vehicles can be in the region of 6kW.
Solenoid When the key switch is operated, a supply is made to terminal 50 on the solenoid. This causes two windings to be energised, the hold-on winding and the pull-in winding. The pull-in winding is low resistance so a high current flows. This winding is connected in series with the motor circuit, and the current flow causes the motor to rotate slowly to facilitate engagement.
Brushes and commutator To pass the current to the rotating armature, copper/carbon brushes and a commutator are required. As the armature (and therefore the commutator) rotate, current is passed to the different armature windings.
Armature The rotating armature is the main shaft of the motor. It consists of thick copper wires equally spaced around its circumference. The current through these windings produces high magnetism that interacts with the field magnetism to produce rotation and torque.
Field windings Starters use heavy-duty series windings or permanent magnets. If windings are used then the high current flow causes very strong magnetism and high torque. The permanent magnets weigh less and are smaller. Almost all cars use permanent magnet motors.
Engagement mechanism The magnetism created in the solenoid attracts the plunger and, via an operating lever, pushes the pinion into mesh with the flywheel ring gear. When the pinion is fully in mesh, the plunger at the end of its travel causes a heavy-duty set of copper contacts to close and supply full battery power to the main circuit of the starter motor. When the main contacts are closed, the pull-in winding is effectively switched off.
Intermediate epicyclic transmission The sun gear is on the armature shaft and the planet carrier drives the one-way clutch. The ring gear or annulus remains stationary and acts as an intermediate bearing. This gear arrangement gives a reduction ratio of about 5:1.
One-way clutch The torque developed by the starter is passed through a one-way clutch to the pinion. The purpose of this free-wheeling device is to prevent the starter being driven at excessively high speed if the pinion is held in mesh after the engine has started.
Pinion With a speed reduction (but torque increase) of around 10:1, the small pinion drives a large ring gear, which is usually located on the engine flywheel.
The latest automotive training centre to be named an IMI TechSafe® Centre of Excellence is Lincoln College, which has just opened a brand new automotive workshop and Apprentice Centre.
The first further education college in the UK to offer specific qualifications for electric vehicles (EVs) and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), Lincoln College also trains teaching staff and trainers from institutions and businesses around the country.
Lincoln College has been facilitating a number of Technical Update events
for local and national industry professionals since 2017, leading to a national roadshow with the Original Equipment Suppliers Aftermarket Association (OESAA). These events and partnerships have inspired other colleges to deliver their own events in partnership with Schaeffler, OESAA and Motor Factors.
In September 2022, the Automotive Team at Lincoln College took over a disused sports hall on the college’s Newark campus, which was opened earlier this month as an automotive workshop and Apprentice Centre.
The new centre hosted the
inaugural OESAA Academy
Live event on 13-14 January 2023. The first day of the event brought together 60 students for seminars and talks from a diverse range of presenters about their automotive journeys, while the next saw working professionals attend technical presentations and networking opportunities.
Peter Jackson, learning and skills lead at Lincoln College said: “Lincoln College is still one of very few FE Colleges to be actively offering EV L1, L2, L3 and L4 qualifications, as well as ADAS Calibration. Our programmes are increasingly popular, with
applications significantly increasing year-on-year. We are delighted to welcome new cohorts every year and offer fantastic facilities for prospective students.
“The whole team works tirelessly to deliver high quality programmes to ensure our students complete their training with a full, up-to-date understanding of the latest vehicle technology. It is an honour for the centre to be named an IMI TechSafe® Centre of Excellence. This clearly demonstrates the dedication, professionalism and care shown by our entire team.”
WE WISH TO EXPRESS OUR DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF…
Ashley Browning
MIMI, Gloucestershire, aged 68
Hassan Mohammed AMIMI, Derbyshire, aged 66
Barry Pearce
FIMI, Hertfordshire, aged 83
Roger Sigley MIMI, Merseyside, aged 81
Mark Stokes
AMIMI, West Yorkshire, aged 60
James Thomas
MIMI, North Yorkshire, aged 58
Mike Yorke
FIMI, Shropshire, aged 63
focused on driving diversity in the automotive sector, the IMI has launched the Automotive Diversity Network, a unique opportunity for equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) leaders and advocates to come together to network and share EDI practices and protocols to help the sector overcome the challenges it faces.
The Network is the latest project from the IMI’s Diversity Task Force, an initiative launched in 2021 to address the root causes behind the lack of diversity that’s compounding the sector’s skills shortage.
By examining three of the largest under-represented groups within the automotive workplace – race and ethnicity,
physical and non-visible disabilities, and gender and sexual orientation –the Diversity Task Force mapped the EDI landscape to understand the actions and support needed to accelerate change. Published in March 2022, its first Diversity Task Force Report was the catalyst for stimulating industry-wide debate, and has now led to the IMI forming the Automotive Diversity Network, open to members and non-members.
Vijayacitta Harvey, head of the IMI Diversity Task Force said: “The positive feedback from individuals and companies on the EDI work the IMI is undertaking has been hugely encouraging. It has also
been tremendously exciting to see the number of professionals determined to join the movement in addressing the diversity imbalance.
“Amazing EDI work has and continues to be done by industry colleagues, but what has become apparent is the need for a forum that enables and facilitates the free exchange of ideas, knowledge and resources. The IMI is answering this need with the launch of the Automotive Diversity Network, extending the opportunity to all to be part of the sector’s EDI journey.”
Find out more and register your interest in joining the Automotive Diversity Network
We’re always open and available to talk if you have any questions or queries. Get in touch with the membership or centre support teams on 01992 511521 or email hello@theimi.org.uk
Automotive may not have been her first choice of career, but Brembo’s UK & Ireland Key Account Manager isn’t applying the brakes anytime soon
How did you get into the automotive sector?
By accident. I was one of those people who didn’t really know what they wanted to do. I come from a background where I was supposed to do law, and when that didn’t work out, I found myself working for a company called National Service Network (NSN). That’s where I first met Kevin Finn, who’s the IMI’s chair. He was my first boss in the automotive world!
At NSN, I was part of the bookings team, booking fleet drivers’ vehicles into independent garages across the UK. We were so busy I found myself assisting the garage authorisation team as well. I very quickly realised that I was intrigued by the design and workings of the vehicles, and the more I immersed myself, the more my interest grew.
How did you increase your knowledge in the industry?
My formal training came when I joined companies, such as Euro Car Parts. I started working with their technical team, who introduced me to the IMI. I had some training around clutch and flywheel systems, as well as some EV and hybrid systems training. I even had training on LuK double-clutch systems – all of which were IMI-certified, which gave me a real sense of validation. I knew the theories and certainly had hands-on experience working for a chain of independent garages after my experience
with NSN, so it was good to put theory into practice.
What made you move across to Brembo?
I’ve been with Brembo for three years now. I was approached by them after an Independent Automotive Aftermarket Association (IAAF) event. They liked what I was doing, such as the best practice seminars, and they wanted to transfer that over to Brembo. I couldn’t say ‘Yes’ quick enough!
It’s a fantastic brand, a technological innovator of braking systems for automotive vehicles. It designs, develops and manufactures these systems and their components, supplying the leading manufacturers of cars, motorbikes and commercial vehicles worldwide, as well as clutches and other components for racing.
How important is diversity and inclusion to Brembo?
Brembo is focused on the future, so topics such as the environment, sustainability and diversity aren’t new to us. We’ve been championing them for quite a while. We’re a very forward-thinking brand, full of ideas about how we can not only be the brand of today, but tomorrow as well.
We can’t hide that there’s still prejudice in the industry. Have you experienced it? Unfortunately, yes. Even in simple day-to-day jobs when I’m visiting garages to help resolve an issue, the barriers will go up immediately and people will question my knowledge and experience. I remember trying to help a Master Technician with an issue when I was working as a clutch and transmission specialist. When I got on site and introduced myself, the
response was, ‘Sorry love but what the ‘eff’ do you know about clutches?’ So without even talking to me or finding out what I knew, that person made a snap judgment and instant assumption about me.
What would be your message be to those people?
At least have a conversation with the person rather than letting their physical appearance dictate what you think of them or what they’re capable of. If I could help change anything, it would be first-impression stereotypes. I just want to apply my knowledge to assisting people and for them to set their assumptions aside. I can’t tell you the amount of time I waste trying to convince some people that I know what I’m doing when I’m just there to help!
How important do you regard your work within the IMI Diversity Task Force?
If I can give women in the industry the benefit of my experience and ways to deal with situations then that would be awesome. But change isn’t going to happen overnight. There have been times when I’ve been upset by a situation, but I’m resilient and can move on. I’ve learnt to treat negativity as character development and remember that other peoples’ comments aren’t a reflection on me, they’re a reflection on them.
To feature in our next edition, email james.scoltock@ thinkpublishing.co.uk
