Jonathan Welch speaks to founder of Evolution Automotive Training Solutions Dave Walker about his new business and the changes the sector is going through
The industry is changing, and whilst we’ll still have a need for traditional diesel engineers for a good while yet, the growing demand for skilled technicians capable of working on the high-voltage systems found on both battery-electric and hydrogen-fuelled buses means that there’s an equally growing demand for training. A number of existing providers have adapted their services to fill that gap, and new names have entered the market.
One of those new names is Evolution Automotive Training Solutions, headed by experienced industry professional Dave Walker, who has an extensive background across the automotive sector. To find out more about Dave’s new venture, we caught up with him for a chat.
Having already offered his own services as a trainer, Dave explained that he quickly found with so much going on in the industry, there was a high demand for their services, and one which they couldn’t meet alone. “So we’ve set up a new company,” he explained, “to bring in associate trainers to provide additional support where and whenever possible. We’re at the stage now of making people aware that we’re here, we’re expanding and what we have to offer.”
Light and heavy vehicles
Going back a few steps, Dave started off by first explaining a bit about his own background, for those who might not have met him before. “My background is automotive through and through,” he said. “I worked as a technician for Ford and Alfa Romeo, then as an AA patrol for nine years. I then went into training when I had kids and realised I wasn’t seeing enough of them. I worked for three colleges, West Notts, Chesterfield then New College Nottingham, then went to Jaguar-Land Rover as a technical trainer for three and a half years, then had the privilege of becoming Technical Curriculum Manager at the Henry Ford Academy. After that I managed the Scania Truck apprenticeship programme.
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