Aftermarket December/January 2023

62 AFTERMARKET NOVEMBER 2022 TRAINING www.aftermarketonline.net Upcoming training dates and news on courses TRAINING UPDATE IMI names first TechSafe Centre of Excellence BMW Group UK Academy in Berkshire has been named as the first IMI TechSafe Centre of Excellence, recognising its use and promotion of IMI TechSafe standards. The BMW Group UK Academy opened in 2006 and trains BMW apprentices and provides ongoing training for other BMW staff. 76% of technicians in the BMW UK network have achieved IMI qualifications and IMI TechSafe eligibility. Technical trainers and assessors from the BMW Academy have worked with the IMI for over 12 years in expert working groups, taking part in EV steering groups, and in the IMI TechSafe Sector Advisory Group. The Academy also worked with the IMI to outline the IMI TechSafe CPD Framework, which launched in 2022. Phil Neal, National Technical Training Manager, BMW Group UK Academy, observed: “For the benefit of the end customer as well as the wider industry, we have built IMI TechSafe into our Academy programme and retailer standards across our network. Our technical apprentices also finish their programme with IMI EV Level 2 accreditation to drive standards higher and ensure our technicians are fully trained to work safely on electric vehicles.” Steve Nash, CEO of the Institute of the Motor Industry added: “We are delighted to have presented this first IMI TechSafe Centre of Excellence accreditation to the BMW Academy in recognition of its achievements in training.” Welcome to Aftermarket’s training section. Here you can find the latest on upcoming training dates, as well as news on courses becoming available. If you have information on training you wish to share, please get in touch with the editor via email: alex@aftermarket.co.uk NGK has launched a new online training portal; NGK Academy, with a three-month full access trial for garages that belong to the NGK BoxClever loyalty scheme being offered The portal contains more than 270 technical training videos created by Our Virtual Academy (OVA) who have also produced videos on spark plugs, with further NGK/NTK product-focused training under development. Commenting on the launch, NGK Spark Plugs (UK) Marketing Manager Mark Hallam said: “NGK Academy is designed to provide valuable, meaningful training that users can take on-board to help them each day at work. We believe it is a market-leading initiative and one that will prove popular not only with workshops, but also distributors.” OVA Managing Director Ben Stockton added: “In addition to the NGK training videos, NGK has purchased access to more than 270 training videos on topics such as vehicle electrics, petrol and diesel engine management, chassis, hybrid and EV and HVAC. We have also provided access to our dedicated content associated to the IMI Level 3 Award in Electric/Hybrid Vehicle System Repair and Replacement QFQUAL I.D 60314680.” The spark plug training videos, three of OVA’s core training videos and other existing NGK/NTK training content, will be free to access for all once they have enrolled on the portal, but there will be a charge for accessing the full set. For more information, visit: www.ngkacademy.com NGK Academy: NGK launches online training portal