Lecturers into awards finals

Hard work and dedication has paid off for two lecturers from the NPTC Group of Colleges who are finalists in this year’s Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) Outstanding Contribution to the Motor Industry Award - celebrating automotive excellence.

Motor Vehicle lecturers Dan Pritchard and William Davies from Newtown College and Brecon Beacons College in Powys, have delivered innovative training and development  opportunities throughout the pandemic to hundreds of motor vehicle students and businesses both in the UK and overseas. The training required a flexible approach to meet the needs of onsite and online learning. 

Committed to delivering at the highest standards, they developed a new virtual ‘Train the Trainers’ programme. They did this by redeveloping the existing Electric Vehicle (EV) training programme.

Originally scheduled to be an in-country face to face programme, it was rapidly adjusted to the virtual mode suitable for the international automobile industry. Using virtual technologies they have trained and equipped delegates from India, with the educational skills needed to develop Electric Vehicle (EVs) and Technical Teaching Pedagogies.

Four online international programmes have already been delivered, with more planned for 2022.

The College has introduced the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) Electric/Hybrid Vehicle Maintenance and Safety courses, as a result of a need for international motor mechanics and related tradespersons to become industry competent and to help prepare for a move away from petrol and diesel to electric and hybrid.

The Institute of the Motor Industry 2022 Awards, celebrates the best of the automotive industry, and showcases those individuals and organisations who have gone the extra mile, and excelled in meeting the challenges of the last two years. The ‘Outstanding Contribution to the Motor Industry Award’ recognises the energy and enthusiasm of those dedicated to the sector during this period. 

Dan Pritchard said: “This is absolutely fantastic news. I feel so proud to have been nominated for merely doing my job to the best of my ability whilst striving to make a difference to the motor trade and the environment.  We all work tirelessly to raise the profile of the department across all campuses and this will only boost our strategy to increase students, commercial candidates and apprenticeship placement numbers further.”

William Davies also shared his response to the announcement saying: “I am delighted with the news of the nomination. The motor industry is undergoing significant transition to low carbon technologies and we are eager to demonstrate and train future technicians to diagnose, service and repair these systems.

“I'm excited to be training the first generation of EV technicians and to know that we are supporting a major training need in the automotive industry and to be shortlisted for an award at the same time is great news.'

NPTC Group of Colleges CEO Mark Dacey added: “We are incredibly proud of the work that our Motor Vehicle department has done over the past few years. They have put us firmly at the forefront of delivering the latest in EV training and are providing the skills needed for one the biggest changes even seen by the Automotive industry in over 50 years.

“Dan and Will have worked tirelessly to drive forward the EV agenda, helping to obtain equipment, training and resources to make the college a leader in EV training. Well done to both of them and good luck.”

The winner of the award will be announced at the IMI Dinner on Thursday 17^th March at the InterContinental, Park Lane.