Mark Jones, from ELV Training, a specialist in vehicle depollution and dismantling training, explores a critical question for businesses in the industry: Is accredited training really worth the investment? He discusses whether accredited training adds value beyond the free or internal options, examining the role of mandatory certifications, the potential pitfalls of relying solely on equipment suppliers, and how accredited training can unlock significant operational advantages.
As a business owner, you already know that you cannot avoid staff training, but the type and quality of training you provide for employers is entirely your decision. We are examining whether or not the cost associated with accredited training delivers additional value above and beyond what traditional handover training provides.
Historically, ATFs may have relied on sourcing workplace training from two areas:
- Firstly, equipment suppliers typically provide free-of-charge handover training when a business purchases a piece of equipment from them.
- Secondly, workplace training is delivered internally by more experienced staff members.
At this point, we should also highlight the mandatory training requirements for both F Gas recovery and pyrotechnics. From my experience, most people, if not everyone, are aware that each technician who will be expected to handle AC refrigerants must possess a valid level 3 certification in order to do so. What appears to be less commonly known is that DEFRA requires that staff receive training to ensure the safe removal, handling, and deployment of automotive pyrotechnic devices.
If you need further clarification on this requirement, I refer you to the following guidance document on the gov.co.uk website, titled: “Depolluting End-of-Life Vehicles (cars and light goods vehicles) Guidance for Authorised Treatment Facilities”. Consequently, if you need support with pyrotechnic training, we do offer the convenience of an elearning package that fulfils the DEFRA requirement.
Handover training
No one can deny that the manufacturer knows more about what a piece of equipment can do (and can’t do) than those who designed and built it. However, does that naturally mean that they are the experts in everything relating to vehicle depollution and dismantling? A supplier may know all they need to know about their equipment but not necessarily your operation; so don’t assume that they are a font of all knowledge and know what best suits your needs. Their business model is built around selling you a piece of equipment to perform a specific task and less about selling you effective training that adheres to a particular standard. That doesn’t mean that training provided by an equipment manufacturer can’t be robust, but it will not teach how to depollute and dismantle a wide range of vehicles in a safe, effective and efficient manner. Training should not be a showcase to confirm that you have made the right decision or a platform to upsell other equipment in the product catalogue. Quality Training needs to possess its own objectives, be accredited, quality assured, and provide a series of benefits to your business, as opposed to a no-cost expectation bundled in with a hardware purchase.
Handover training is not always designed to look at all your equipment or how your employees interact with it. It commonly looks at a single piece of equipment and shows staff how to use it in isolation. For this reason, much of this type of training is rarely sufficient on its own to meet your legal responsibilities as an Employer, so be careful!
As enticing as free or low-cost training sounds, business owners should be careful not to automatically jump at a product offered to “sweeten the deal” on a new equipment purchase before they have had the opportunity to verify the training is suitable for their needs. Do your due diligence and ask the right questions. How does this training integrate alongside existing equipment or work processes? Is it even compatible? Be prepared that an equipment manufacturer may be reluctant to train you on equipment you have previously purchased from their competition.
Finally, consider the practicalities of how handover training is deployed. It typically coincides with the delivery and/or installation date of equipment, not the start date of a new employee. Existing members of staff may be able to access the training relatively easily, but how do you, the Employer, ensure future members of staff will have access to the same training? Any re-visits to site from your equipment supplier will inevitably be at additional cost to you. It’s our experience that only at this point when a client is paying for the training, do quality and/or suitability of what is being provided become important.
Workplace training
Workplace training delivered by other members of staff can certainly be more effective than the previous approach but again, it does have some drawbacks. Without the right sort of investment in internal quality assurance, trained assessors, and a structured training program that provides employees with safe, consistent and environmentally compliant training, internal training can be hit or miss, as well as costly. Larger businesses with more available capital are typically more willing to invest long-term! There needs to be investment in workplace trainers; to verify their skills, provide access to CPD, and frequent audits of their work, otherwise, how can you guarantee that trainers are suitably equipped to critique their peers, challenge behaviours and not unintentionally pass over bad habits? It’s only when a business dives into the level of sustained investment required to provide and maintain an internal training programme that they have a clearer understanding of how cost-effective an externally accredited training route provides. Remember, to be the best in class, you need to know what your competition is doing, and more importantly, how they are doing it. How do/or how would you ensure your company trainers have the exposure to what’s going on in the wider vehicle recycling world? Trainers need access to expertise beyond how things are done within your own organisation.
Accredited Training Delivers Unrivalled Business Benefits & Value
An accredited programme managed by a training provider can not only be cheaper but delivers piece of mind. Training companies like our own are not worried about marketing equipment and are free to focus on sharing industry best practice, promoting standardisation, and leveraging the latest techniques to ensure people are equipped with the skills to carry out work safely, compliantly, and efficiently. This allows us to offer a suite of programmes aligned with National Occupational Standards, defining the gold standard within the sector, as well as complying with all current ELV legislation. Our commitment to the quality assurance standards laid down by the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) means we can guarantee technicians are all trained to operate at the same exceptional level, replicating workplace standards across our clients’ businesses. What does this all mean? Employers needn’t worry about the suitability of the training being delivered. A no-compromise approach to training and quality assurance provided by the same organisation that supports the WAMITAB framework means our qualifications deliver peace of mind.
Our Industry is Changing
Let’s face it, our industry has come a long way since the early 2000s. The days of weighing in a car, only for it to be crushed and bailed are over. Today’s vehicle recycling environment relies on non-destructive dismantling techniques to preserve the condition of components, whereas the strict EHS framework that exists provides additional challenges that often counteract operational efficiency. Our industry is transforming rapidly, and with it, our sector grows ever more reliant on the quality of the training. Nowadays, operators need to draw upon a wider skillset than the average car mechanic at the local garage. In light of these increasing challenges and the demands placed upon them, businesses are finding that traditional handover or familiarisation training no longer cuts it. Disassembly using reverse engineering sees vehicles dismantled similarly to how they were first put together, all of which takes additional time and cost. The quicker and more efficiently we can achieve this, the better for everyone. Business owners and leadership teams are exposed to Lean Management and Six Sigma principles as they strive for process improvement to drive additional efficiency. And yet the key to unlocking such improvements lies in getting training right from the outset. Hundreds of vehicle manufacturers need to accommodate petrol, diesel, LPG, Hydrogen, CNG, Hybrid and EV. Without access to the right sort of training alongside cutting-edge equipment, how are you going to ensure that people are able to safely respond and keep pace? Without the right skills, how does your business remain relevant and not get left behind?
In today’s vehicle recycling industry, businesses need the support of accredited training externally verified by industry leaders. You wouldn’t think twice about attending a trade show or conference to learn about how the rest of the industry is responding, what the latest techniques are or what your peers or competition are doing, so why should training be any different? Getting a training course accredited and externally verified is a lengthy process and costly for training providers, that’s why equipment manufacturers and suppliers don’t offer it. If your business has purchased the latest depollution and dismantling equipment with the expectation to unlock operational efficiencies, then you are unlikely to see any benefit without combining that acquisition with accredited training for those expected to use it.
Originally published – www.elvtraining.com
