High voltage safety award for Martin

A Newtown businessman now sits on the safety board of the Institute of the Motor Industry after completing a pioneering course at Newtown College.

The college has been offering Electric and Hybrid Vehicle training since early 2020 after the pioneering move by the motor vehicle department to keep up with the changing needs of the automotive industry.

These part-time courses are industry recognised and were introduced with the support of Welsh Government for specialist equipment and funding.

Many of those who have completed the courses are from local businesses including Martin Stevens from Electric Classic Cars in Newtown.  

Martin has completed Level 2 and Level 3 of the ILM Awards and now sits on the safety board of the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI).

He said that the training was essential for his role as senior Electric Vehicle Technician at Electric Classic Cars, a local company that turns classic cars into electric vehicles giving them a new lease of life and making them road fit for the 21^st century. 

The company’s notoriety grew quickly following its success in car conversions and appearances on TV shows such as Guy Martin’s The World’s Fastest Electric Car and Fully Charged, as well as having their own show Vintage Voltage, which features the ECC mechanics tackling a range of classic car conversions. They now employ a team of 15 staff.

ECC are committed to having all workshop staff Awarded the IMI Electric and Hybrid Vehicle training.  

The introduction of the Institute of the courses Level 1- 4 came after recognition of a need for motor mechanics and related trades to become industry competent, to meet the needs of the growing popularity of electric and hybrid cars. 

CEO Richard Morgan said: “This training is imperative for our members of staff. Like any qualification, it provides a level playing field of knowledge. The content covered in the course reinforces the awareness of safety standards required when working with high voltage equipment.

“We are lucky that the local college and lecturer Dan Prichard were forward-thinking enough to react quickly to the training needs of the industry.” 

Dan Pritchard, Lecturer said: “The course is open to anyone interested. It starts with basic vehicle and safety awareness at level 1, maintenance and repair at level 2. Level 3 would be for those working on low voltage systems carrying out diagnosis and repair, and level 4 is for high voltage system diagnosis and repair.

“It’s great to support the local work force like Electric Classis Cars and to help others prepare for a move away from petrol and diesel to electric and hybrid.

“We have not just had on-site training but have also been involved in virtual training to International interests such as our recent collaboration with delegates in India.

“After all, lowering carbon emissions is of worldwide interest and the focus on electric and hybrid vehicles is one of the largest changes seen in the automotive industry in over 50 years.”    

If you are over 19 and are currently living in Wales you could be eligible for a FREE course under the Welsh Government Personal Learning Accounts (PLA) funding.

For more details about PLA and Motor Vehicle courses at NPTC Group of Colleges visit www.nptcgroup.ac.uk or Call our Business Development Unit, Karen Harris-Vernon on Tel: 0800 013 2544 to book on to the Electric and Hybrid Vehicle training course.