Award winning fleet solutions provider, Rivus, has bolstered its commitment to technician training by signing up to IMI TechSafe™
As part of its ongoing programme of employee learning and development Rivus has signed up to IMI TechSafe™ to equip its technicians with the ongoing knowledge and expertise to service, repair and maintain alternative fuel fleets.
Angus McDowall, Alternative Fuels Network Manager at Rivus said: “We’ve already trained many of our technicians to IMI Level 3 or 4 in Electric/Hybrid Vehicle System Repair and run an ongoing programme of training, including our alternative fuel academies for customers. However, it’s one thing to get a qualification for working on EV’s but to ensure we stay up to date with the emerging technologies that our industry is seeing, we wanted to formalise the process of ongoing professional development, to ensure that our technicians are ahead of the curve.”
IMI TechSafe™ provides professional recognition on the IMI Professional Register. It identifies a member’s professionalism and safe working practice in the field of electric vehicles (EV) and other safety-critical vehicle systems such as Autonomous or Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). As well as proof of competence through the achievement of nationally recognised qualifications or IMI accreditations, having IMI TechSafe™ recognition means that the member keeps up to date through mandatory requirements for continuous professional development (CPD).
“The scheme has benefits for both our customers and our employees,” Angus continues. “Our customers are assured that their vehicles are being fixed by technicians that achieve the highest standards of competency and safety, who are at the forefront of the fleet industry. At the same time, our employees have a clear programme of ongoing professional development and a career pathway long into the future.”
New data from the Institute of the Motor Industry published in September 2022 revealed that the first six months of the year saw the highest number of technicians take an EV qualification that is eligible for IMI TechSafe™ accreditation since its introduction in 2016. The number of technicians now qualified to work safely on electric vehicles is estimated to be 32,900; the equivalent of just 15% of technicians in the UK.
Steve Nash, CEO of the IMI adds: “With increasing numbers of motorists’ transitioning to EVs, it is vital that the infrastructure is in place to service and repair these vehicles safely, quickly and efficiently. And the commitment to invest in a continual programme of EV skills training and professional development made by Rivus, and others in the automotive and fleet sectors, is essential to addressing the EV skills shortage we face in the UK, whilst giving motorists the confidence to adopt an electric future.”
Technicians who have met IMI TechSafe™ standards can showcase their credentials by joining the IMI’s Professional Register. Drivers of EVs can access the Register online for free, to find local qualified EV technicians and garages.
Thomas Maerz, Chief Development Officer at Rivus, concludes: “Having the most up to date training for our technicians will help them stay in front of the ever-changing technology and enable us to fix more vehicles in-house, first time. It will help us to continue giving excellent service across all vehicle types and ensuring we keep vehicle down time to an absolute minimum.”
Rivus has more than 1,300 employees, manages over 500,000 service events each year through its combined LCV and HGV specialist garage network and operates from 78 Rivus-owned nationwide garages. It also has over 500 Rivus Approved Garage Partners and a UK wide team of mobile technicians.
To find out more about Rivus’ complete fleet management services, visit https://www.rivusgroup.co.uk/services/fleet-management/