Eco cars are a green light for mechanics
WITH eco concern growing, sales of alternative fuel vehicles have risen by almost 24 per cent since January 2017 —and so demand for the technicians trained to repair electric and hybrid vehicles is set to rise.
Lois Lane, an automotive technician at PK automotive Solutions in Lincoln, is about to start a course enabling her to work on hybrid vehicles.
Lois, 20, says: ‘I already have the nVQ level 3 automotive technician qualification, have completed a Bosch course in electrics and have worked on hybrids and this course will develop my career.
‘The increasing number of electric and hybrid vehicles will lead to an increasing demand for technicians who can maintain and repair them, so the course will boost prospects.’
Paul Killingworth, owner of PK automotive Solutions, says: ‘ Lois will be the third member of staff who has done the hybrid course. It’s essential that people are properly trained because electric and hybrid vehicles can deliver a fatal shock.
‘ We are seeing an increasing demand for technicians with these skills, which can boost technicians’ career prospects and pay. Other garages are sending work to us because we have these skills.’ Meanwhile, research by Halfords autocentres shows that of the 180,000 car mechanics in the UK, only 6 per cent are qualified to work on electric vehicles and hybrids.
So Halfords has been training its technicians, and now has at least one in all of its 316 UK centres who is trained to work on low- carbon, hybrid and all-electric vehicles.
andy Turbefield, head of quality and training at Halfords, says: ‘Over the past year we’ve seen an increase in electric and hybrid servicing. We don’t necessarily expect to see the number of jobs increase as a result, but we do expect to see the auto technician role become more diverse, requiring a broader skills set.’
For motor industry careers information see autocity.org.uk. For details of jobs with halfords, see halfordscareers.com