Autotech Training goes the extra mile for the Shetland Island’s Council

Demonstrating its flexible approach to delivering its training courses – Autotech Training has travelled 26 hours, covering almost 800 miles by car and ferry to reach the northernmost region of the UK – the Shetland Islands.

During the process of electrifying its fleet of over 320 vehicles, the Shetland Islands Council recognised that their cohort of vehicle technicians needed essential EV training to manage the transition.

However, lying approximately 100 miles north east of Scotland, finding the right training provider was challenging. Considerations included the expense of sending its eight vehicle technicians over to the mainland for training or finding a provider who could travel the distance to deliver EV training courses directly to its vehicle technicians.

“Currently, we have around 20 electric vehicles within our fleet,” explains Raymond Murchison, acting Team Leader of Fleet for Shetland Islands Council. “However, as with all local authorities across the UK, we are working towards electrifying our entire fleet and one of the key requirements was to ensure that our vehicles technicians held the relevant skill set to repair and maintain these vehicles safely.”

Without this specialist training, the electric vehicles would have to be sent to Aberdeen for routine maintenance and repair work – which can be a 24 hour round trip.

Struggling to find a solution, Raymond contacted Autotech Training. Based in Milton Keynes, the company is an IMI approved training provider and offers a range of courses including ADAS, MOT Manager and MOT Tester. The company also delivers IMI Levels 1-4 electric/hybrid vehicle training and, most recently IMI Levels 1-3 Heavy Vehicle electric/hybrid courses.

Courses can be undertaken at Autotech Training’s headquarters, which features a dedicated EV Training Suite, or rolled out to any business or garage across the UK.

Due to the company’s flexibility, including its ability to send experienced trainers out on the road, the number of electric vehicle courses booked with Autotech Training has rapidly increased. This year alone over 60% of these courses have been delivered on a customer’s premises.

“Above all, we understand the challenges our customers face,” comments Colin Gleghorn, Managing Director of Autotech Training. “From the downtime and cost to the business as a result of sending essential staff out for even just one day’s training, to the overall investment in travel and accommodation expenses.”

As one of the only training providers able to meet the Shetland Islands Council’s EV training needs, Dave Walker, Business Development Director for Autotech Training, made the 1,600 mile round trip from Milton Keynes to The Shetland Islands last month in an Autotech Training branded hybrid vehicle.

Delivering both IMI Levels 2 and 3 electric and hybrid vehicle training over four days within the council’s dedicated Lerwick workshop, Dave equipped the eight vehicle technicians with the skills needed to help the council continue its electric vehicle transition.

“We have been delighted with the entire process,” Raymond continues. “The electric vehicles we currently have include both cars and vans for the support we offer our care centres. Autotech Training have not only gone above and beyond to deliver electric vehicle training to our technicians, but they also tailored the approach and demonstrated the learning on our own range of electric vehicles offering them hands on experience.”

“As a result, our technicians now have the skill set to safely maintain our fleet as the number of electric vehicles within it increases - I cannot recommend Autotech Training enough.”