New training courses, being launched today, will expand the knowledge and skills base for electric vehicle (EV) charge point operations and management in the UK.

The Charge Point Professional courses are designed to accommodate the needs of junior staff through to C-suite executives entering or active in the market. These courses will complement the existing technical training available for those involved in the installation sector.

  1. Charge Point ECOSYSTEM is a regularly-run one-day introduction to the key terms, processes, and relationships in the EV charging sector.
  2. Charge Point OPERATIONS is a deep-dive two-day course for those who are seeking to be able to operate charging networks.
  3. Charge Point DIRECTOR is a half-day course designed for executives and others entering the EV charging sector who need to understand the sector’s landscape. 

Analysis published by the Committee on Climate Change in 2018 suggests the number of public chargers required for ‘top-up charging’ needs to rise from 2,700 in 2016 to over 27,000 by 2030. More recently, consultancy Delta-EE estimated that the number of charge points (public and private) will rise from 182,000 installed at the end of 2019 to 4.1m by 2030.

To reach such deployment levels, the UK will require a significant expansion in the number of professionals skilled in charge point sales, operations, payments, and management. The REA’s work with its EV Forum members indicates that finding professionals with such knowledge is presently difficult. These courses are designed to address this skills gap.

The Charge Point Professional courses will be delivered by Charlie O’Donoghue, Business Analyst at EV Technology. Charlie’s background includes time as Technical Director and Chief Technology Officer for a UK charging network, technical consultant for EV charging products for an energy supplier, and as a director at a now market-leading provider of 24/7 customer service helplines to the charge point sector.

Dr Nina Skorupska CBE, Chief Executive at the REA commented:

“This exciting new initiative will support the UK’s EV charging sector in achieving a rapid scale-up to meet expected demand for electric vehicles in the 2020s. We are pleased to be partnering with EV Technology, who bring a wealth of rarified expertise and experience in the sector.”

Alistair Clarke, Chief Executive of EV Technology said:

 

“Developing the necessary skills and knowledge across multiple sectors is an essential component of the UK’s switch to electric mobility. By partnering with the REA, we believe we can reach the right audience with the right information to make real progress in bridging this skills gap.”