Charged and EV Ready: AW Repair Group becomes first group to complete Thatcham Research EV training

• All AW Repair Group sites receive EV Ready certification
• More than 200 technical and non-technical staff have completed training

As the number of Electric Vehicle (EV) registrations continues to increase rapidly – with 190,792 pure electric cars registered last year, up from 108,205 the year before – AW Repair Group (AW) has today achieved ‘EV Ready’ certification across all its sites.

AW, one of the UK’s leading accident repair groups, was the first to sign up for Thatcham Research’s pioneering EV Ready training programme in August 2021. The training formed the basis of standardised learning for all staff, in addition to AW’s TecKnowlogy Centres that already specialise in repairing EVs.

More than 200 technical and administration staff across the business are now 'EV Aware', having completed e-learning modules featuring tailored content for all employees.

Technical teams have also completed a Level 3 qualification to ensure EVs can be safely managed across all sites.

Steve Hoe, Technical Development and VM Executive at AW Repair Group comments: “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.

“Knowing the safety precautions to take when near a ring-fenced EV repair in progress or simply being able to talk competently with an EV driver are just two simple side benefits of the EV Ready certification.”

Since its launch in July 2021, several major repair groups along with some other claims supply chain businesses have identified Thatcham Research’s EV training as meeting their needs and are on the journey to becoming EV Ready.

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: EV Ready - Thatcham

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Editor’s Notes

EV Ready feedback from AW Repair Group users:

I found the course informative and interesting, and I now have a good level of general knowledge about electric vehicles. Being part of an admin team I wouldn`t normally get the chance to get involved with technical elements of vehicles but thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity.

I also felt the course has helped me understand the importance of safety in and around EVs.

As a trained EV technician of multiple brands I found it very informative and well structured. Easy to follow modules that were well illustrated and gave an excellent insight into the developing EV vehicles and all Safety standards that need to be complied to when working on EV vehicles.

Its’s great for AW to have such a close working relationship with Thatcham Research, the training that Thatcham Research offer is the best in the industry. It is important that all staff members within the group understand the importance of dealing with Electric and hybrid vehicles due to the risk involved because of the electrical system on the vehicles. The EV Ready courses offer a simple solution to ensure all staff are trained to the correct standards.”