July/August 2021

22 AFTERMARKET JULY/AUGUST 2021 TOP TECHNICIAN AND TOP GARAGE www.toptechnicianonline.co.uk WHAT MAKES A TOP GARAGE? Top Technician and Top Garage sponsors LKQ Euro Car Parts want to show how any garage can raise its game with the right attitude and approach R unning a successful garage is no mean feat. Not only do garage owners have to ensure they can service any vehicle to the highest standard, they also need to deliver an outstanding customer experience so that every driver leaves their workshop happy. As we approach this year’s Top Garage awards, we take a look at some of the key considerations for technicians looking to make sure that their garage is one to watch. Keeping skills up to scratch Modern vehicles are more complex than ever, so it is critical that garages are on top of the latest tech and vehicle standards. Take advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) for example. ADAS-equipped vehicles already make up 10% of the UK’s car parc, and the technology is set to become mandatory on all new vehicles from next year. Similarly, with the 2030 ban on internal combustion engines edging ever closer, familiarity with hybrid and electric vehicle systems is key to ensuring garages are match fit for the future. At LKQ Euro Car Parts, we offer a comprehensive ADAS training course that covers operations, calibration techniques and the implications of incorrect alignment, through our AutoEducation platform. On completion of the programme, technicians will have developed specialist knowledge of both dynamic and static calibration, and will be able to accurately calibrate camera- and radar-based driver assist systems. Similarly, we can help technicians hone their hybrid and EV servicing skills, helping them deal with the hybrids that are already present in the independent aftermarket, and the pure electric vehicles that are on the way. Our 2021 course schedule includes more hybrid and EV course dates than ever before, and will help to bring help to bring more than 1,500 new hybrid-trained technicians up to at least level three standard. Signing up for AutoEducation is free, and technicians can complete nine free skills assessments to help them identify which courses to take. Sponsored by: BY Anthony McAteer, Trading Director at LKQ Euro Car Parts