Yutong distributor Pelican has opened a new training centre for electric and hybrid vehicle technicians, offering in-house or on-site training
Castleford-based family-run Pelican Engineering says it is thrilled to announce that its new automotive training division EV Automotive Training has been approved by the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI). The new training centre will be managed by experienced Training Manager Dave Walker, and is seen as a natural progression to complement the company’s aftersales service.
“We have invested heavily in our new training arm to provide all the equipment and support needed to set up an industry-leading workshop. Gaining IMI Approval was an integral part of setting up EV Automotive Training; to assure our customers that our training has the highest technical and business standards and will provide their staff with all the knowledge they need,” the company said.
Speaking about the new training centre, Aftersales Manager at Pelican Engineering Group Katrina Hogan said: “Pelican has always put customer service and support at the heart of our business, and EV Automotive Training allows us to take this to another level. Adding training to our offering is something that we have wanted to do for some time – we just needed to find the right person. Dave Walker is the person we had been searching for. He is well-known and respected in the automotive industry and brings a wealth of experience in training, setting up, and running workshops.”
Training Manager Dave added: “Finally, after several months of preparation, purchasing equipment, authoring new materials plus loads of hard work and unbelievable support from Pelican and the Institute of the Motor Industry, EV Automotive Training has completed its first training course. It feels amazing to be back in the classroom and workshop with people who love their jobs and want to learn and develop. With over 50 people already booked on our workshops, I can’t wait to welcome the next cohort of candidates and help them achieve their dreams.”
With the help of Dave’s knowledge and determination, and supported by Pelican’s aftersales team, in its first week EV Automotive Training trained 12 engineers, including seven on electric/hybrid vehicles and five on automotive refrigerant handling.
The company will be offering training at its own premises in Castleford, West Yorkshire, as well as at operators’ premises, with courses that include vehicle awareness, routine maintenance, and electric and hybrid vehicle system repair, testing and replacement.
Chris Murrell, Group Aftersales Manager at Pelican Engineering Group, added: “Kent Chang, President of Global Distribution Sales for Yutong recently visited Pelican. He was extremely excited and impressed by the EV Automotive Training set-up: training is a massive part of the Yutong ethos as it is ultra-focused on customer experience and customer satisfaction.”
