Shetland Island’s Council

We go the extra mile

Autotech Training goes the extra mile for the Shetland Island’s Council
24 Jan 2023 | 8 minute read

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

As with all local authorities across the UK, the Shetland Island’s Council is working towards electrifying its fleet of over 320 vehicles. One of the key requirements was to ensure that its vehicle technicians held the relevant skill set to repair and maintain these vehicles safely.

However, lying approximately 100 miles northeast 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.

Without 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.

The Autotech Training difference

Struggling to find a solution, the council 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. Autotech Training 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 Murchison, acting Team Leader of Fleet for Shetland Islands Council. “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.”