Glyn Hopkin state of the art Chelmsford Training Centre receives IMI Approved Centre status

Dealer group demonstrates commitment to EV and ADAS skills with ‘gold standard’ in automotive training

The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) has awarded Glyn Hopkin Chelmsford Training Centre IMI Approved Centre status. Michelle Barrett, IMI Business Development Manager, handed over the Approved Centre certificate and plaque to Salvatore Paci, Head of Technical Training and Development, Glyn Hopkin at the Training Centre last month.

The new state of the art Training Centre, which delivers practical and theoretical learning, opened earlier this year, and demonstrates the dealer group’s focus on the fast-changing advances in automotive technology. Now, with IMI Approved Centre status, the new dedicated Training Centre will ensure all relevant Glyn Hopkin staff, as well as other industry technicians, achieve the ‘gold standard’ in qualifications to work on electrified vehicles and those with Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), as well as handling F-Gas, as demand continues to grow in these areas.

With over 150 technicians and 35 sites across London, Essex, Hertfordshire, Suffolk, Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire, Glyn Hopkin is one of the UK’s largest and most successful dealership networks, supporting multiple manufacturer brands including MG, Nissan, Renault, Suzuki and Kia. Having recently gone into employee-ownership, it has a strong commitment to Continuous Professional Development (CPD), with the Chelmsford Training Centre delivering Level 1, 2, 3 and 4 qualifications. Glyn Hopkin’s dedication to standards of excellence for its technicians led it to becoming an IMI Approved Centre.

Paul Sozzi of Glyn Hopkin commented: “As a Group we are committed to staying ahead of rapidly-changing automotive technology, training our colleagues to work safely on the latest and most advanced vehicles. Whether a customer has an electric, hybrid or hydrogen-powered vehicle, or a petrol or diesel model with ADAS on board, we want them to know we can safely provide the highest standard of repair and maintenance. We are, therefore, delighted to have achieved IMI Approved Centre status, recognising the high quality of teaching and professional development we provide to our employees from our Chelmsford Training Centre.

“Gaining IMI Approved Centre status also sets us apart in the highly competitive recruitment marketplace. It demonstrates to existing and future employees our commitment to on-going career development.”

“As a forward-looking dealer group, Glyn Hopkin must be congratulated for planning ahead to fill the skills gap with highly trained EV and ADAS-qualified technicians,” commented Kevin Finn, Executive Chair at the IMI. “The IMI courses run at the Glyn Hopkin Chelmsford Training Centre are delivered to the highest standard, with a clear focus on upskilling and future-proofing the workforce.”

Centres that want to achieve IMI Approved Centre status must meet set IMI criteria including delivering an outstanding quality of accreditation provision, as well as demonstrating a clear commitment to upskilling their technicians.