The MIRA Technology Institute (MTI) has reaffirmed its readiness to deliver the skills urgently needed by the automotive industry to help address the anticipated future spike in sales of electric vehicles. The MTI was responding to an open letter from the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) calling for urgent support to address ‘the lack of EV-trained technicians.’
In the letter, the IMI’s CEO, Steve Nash and President Professor Jim Saker said that the skills challenge was one of the most significant issues affecting the UK’s ability to meet its net zero targets and deliver the government’s Green Plan. They said that currently only five per cent of the technicians working in garages and dealerships are trained to work on electric vehicles.
Lisa Bingley, Operations Director at the MTI said, “We welcome the IMI’s appeal for greater investment in this type of training. Our provision has been designed precisely to address this demand and we are already delivering training and supporting apprenticeships that will help the UK to achieve its goals.
“We offer Level 1 to Level 3 CPD courses in electric and hybrid vehicle system repair and replacement that are accredited by the IMI itself. This training has been specifically designed for the maintenance and repair technicians that the IMI has identified as in greatest need.
“The courses run every month and businesses can arrange closed sessions dedicated to their own employees. We can also provide advice on how to access support for apprenticeships including how to get the most out of the Apprenticeship Levy.”
“We work very closely with our industry partner, HORIBA MIRA, enabling us to remain in tune with the skills needs of the automotive industry. As a result, we are able to adapt our offer with agility to address the latest developments particularly in the field of electric vehicles.
“In addition, we have recently introduced two new Level 4 apprenticeship standards for engineering manufacturing and propulsion technicians that are combined with a higher education qualification. Our collaboration with Coventry University means that individuals can take advantage of our skills escalator and progress from Level 2 to PhD level with a single provider.”
The MTI is the result of a unique collaboration led by North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College, and its partners, HORIBA MIRA, Coventry University, the University of Leicester, and Loughborough University. Built with £9.5m investment from the UK Government’s Local Growth Fund (LGF) via the Leicester and Leicester Enterprise Partnership Limited (LLEP), the MTI is a specialist facility designed specifically to train the next generation of engineers in the latest automotive technology.
Marion Plant, OBE FCGI, Chair of the MTI Operations Board, and Principal and Chief Executive North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College said, “Working with our partners and the LLEP, we anticipated this surge in skills demand several years ago and are delighted now to be delivering exactly what the industry needs through the MTI at this exciting time of renewed growth for the automotive sector.”
Kevin Harris, Chair of the LLEP Board of Directors said, “Investing in skills is a major priority for the LLEP, which is why we supported MTI with such a significant sum of our LGF allocation. This latest development is particularly pleasing, as not only will the MTI be addressing an urgent skills need, but doing so in an area – low carbon technology – that is becoming increasingly crucial to our economy here in Leicester and Leicestershire.”
Copyright 2024 MIRA Technology Institute
