February 2022

62 AFTERMARKET FEBRUARY 2022 TRAINING www.aftermarketonline.net Continental Tyres is expanding its in-house ContiAcademy training centre with a larger classroom and additional breakout room, and new courses for 2022. More than 100 training sessions were delivered across 2021, both on-site at the ContiAcademy, based in Lutterworth, Leicestershire, as well as virtually. Courses range from fitting and maintenance to tyre life management, health and safety and wheel security. This included the REACT roadside training and tyre professional development scheme, delivered in partnership with the National Tyre Distributor Association (NTDA). The ContiAcademy is also increasing its training provision alongside the IMI with the launch of a tyre forensic course for 2022. Gwyn Fennell, Technical Service and Training Manager at Continental, commented: “We continuously review our training programmes and look to the industry to identify new courses that could be of benefit to customers. The past year has also shown us that there is a desire for hybrid and virtual classroom training to remain available, as it provides a considerable time- based cost-saving for many of our clients.” Continental expands training EV Ready: AW first to complete Thatcham Research EV training AW Repair Group (AW) has become the first accident repair business to complete Thatcham Research’s EV training, meaning it has achieved EV Ready certification across all its sites. More than 200 technical and admin staff are now EV Aware across the business, having completed the necessary e- learning modules. Technical staff also completed a Level 3 qualification. Steve Hoe, Technical Development and VM Executive at AW Repair Group, commented: “Although we already have several TecKnowlogy Centres specialising in EVs, Tesla and multi-material repair, we felt it was really important for all the team to have certified EV awareness, particularly as we are now seeing an increase in EV offerings across the whole of the car parc.” AW was the first business to sign up for Thatcham Research’s EV Ready training programme in August 2021, following its launch. Dean Lander, Head of Repair Sector Services, Thatcham Research said: “It’s been a huge pleasure to award AW with its EV Ready certification. As a progressive, agile business, AW quickly recognised the need, and opportunity, to upskill all staff who might come into contact with an EV. Now AW has become the first to complete the EV Ready programme, its customers can bank on meeting well- informed individuals with a strong working knowledge of EVs, across all touchpoints.” For more information on the EV Ready training programme please visit: www.thatcham.org/ev-ready Valeting products provider Nielsen has completed a £100,000 redevelopment of its International Training Centre in Derbyshire. The company has installed non-slip floors, lighting and equipment, including pressure washers, foaming equipment, wet and dry vacuums and dual action polishers. According to Nielsen Sales Director James Lomas, the refurb will mean it can offer training to 1,000 valeters each year: “Our experts have designed every one of the improvements we have made and have also refreshed our training programme to include six specialist sections, including interior, exterior, wheels and tyres, traffic film removers and shampoo, polishing and cutting and air fresheners.” He added: “Everything is in place to deliver a dual boost by giving us a venue to demonstrate our products to potential new clients and a centre to help create some of the best valeters in the business.” For more information, visit: www.nielsenchemicals.com Training Centre refurb completed Follow us on Facebook/aftermarket magazine