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Thatcham Research has announced it is committed to maintaining development of apprenticeship learner journeys, despite lockdowns and Coronavirus hardship across the industry.
The Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) responded to intensified lobbying of government to confirm that apprentices can continue to study. Backing the decision, Thatcham Research has called for businesses to continue their investment in apprenticeships in the automotive repair sector.
“The challenge for business owners and their staff is almost indescribable,” says Dean Lander, head of repair sector services at Thatcham Research. “That said, no one is likely to feel more vulnerable than young apprentices. With little life experience, many will struggle to get to grips with the upheaval.
“Whether an apprentice is still required to be in the bodyshop, is spending more time at home or has been furloughed, their learning should continue.”
Thatcham has over 150 apprentices on programme throughout the UK, from first-year learners to third-years approaching the end of their course.
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Sealey has added another range of efficient workshop essentials in the form of fuel cans and a drain pan. At three-litres, the cans are fitted with a screw lock cap with a flexible hose.
They’re not only colour-coded – black (JC3B) is for diesel, green (JC3G) for unleaded and the red (JC3R) for lead replacement – they’re also stackable, making them practical and easy for storage.
The plastic drain pan (DRPH12) is made from hard-wearing polypropylene and perfect for catching drips, saving spills of excess oil or other fluids, or cleaning and storing components. Part of the Spring 2020 promotion (prices start around £23.94 until the end of May), Sealey has released three new solar panel ranges – the SPP01 1.5W, SPP02 2.4W and SPP03 4.8W. Turn daylight into 12V electricity, suitable for maintaining a wide range of batteries, power packs, or vehicles in long-term storage.
In addition to the battery clips and vehicle accessory socket plug, the panels come equipped with suction pad fixings for simple practicality on the inside of a car windscreen, for example. These ½in-sq drive 18V cordless impact wrenches not only add colour to your workspace but are ergonomic and practical, too. The double injection body is fitted for rubber grips for comfort and safety, backed by an electronic brake.
On the business end, a variable speed trigger, cast aluminium gearbox, rubber gearhead and thermal overload protection all provide greater control of the torque of up to 400Nm (295lb.ft). An LED work light will illuminate any workspace when the trigger is pressed. The storage case also comes with a 3Ah Li-ion battery and 80 minutes mains charger. The impact wrenches are available in red or hi-vis green.
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Car buyers ready to spend, post-pandemic
The average price of cars being reserved for purchase once lockdowns are lifted has shot-up to a record level, according to online car marketplace Buyacar. co.uk. Average prices on the site fell to a three-year low of £11,366 in April this year, but the first week of May saw the average price of a car reserved rise to nearly £16,000. Through looking at intentions data, analysts for the marketplace have put this down to increasing demand due to enforced slowing of purchase activity coupled with a stronger appetite to splash-out on a higher-spec car than originally planned. In parallel to an increase in the proportion of cheaper 'budget' cars, the most in-demand models include Mercedes A-class,
VW Golf and Mercedes C-class, suggesting that consumers still have their sights set high. There’s little that’s worse than getting into the middle of a job and realising you don’t have the perfect tool to make your life that little bit easier when it comes to convenience. This strong composite plastic multi-purpose trim and seal toolkit from Laser Tools will give you the versatility for almost any use. The set includes: 3 x prying and smoothing tools 3 x O-ring removal tools 6 x scraper tools with both angled and flat heads 3 x pick hooks, useful for removing bearing seals, for example 1 x spike tool
Fourteen of the tools are double-ended, with a different tool each end, all supplied in a handy zip wallet. It’s more than just about the cars, too, as this toolkit’s strong points are equally applicable to phones, laptops or other electrical equipment.