Toyota invests in quality training at new National Academy

Toyota has marked a major development in the delivery of its national training programmes with the launch of a new Academy to provide learning and skills development covering all aspects of its business.

The centre will host apprentices and staff from across Toyota’s vehicle operations, including manufacturing, sales, after sales and marketing, and also from its wider network of component supplier businesses.

The new premises, located within Toyota Manufacturing UK’s Burnaston production complex in Derbyshire, were officially opened by Andy Pfeiffenberger, Senior Vice President, Corporate Administration, Toyota Motor Europe.

From left to right: Paul Van der Burgh, President and Managing Director, Toyota (GB) PLC, Andy Pfeiffenberger, Senior Vice President, Corporate Administration, Toyota Motor Europe, Tony Walker, TMUK Deputy Managing Director 

The new Toyota Academy is a central national facility for both Toyota and Lexus brands, and breaks new ground by providing courses for apprentices, technicians, sales, parts and service staff and managers under one roof, spanning the full spectrum from the factory floor to the retailer showroom and workshop.

By bringing together people from different areas of its business, Toyota will be able to foster a greater understanding and appreciation of the many different skills that go into building, marketing, selling and maintaining its vehicles, to the highest quality standards.

The premises perfectly mirror the modern Toyota working environment, with a replica production line, two vehicle showrooms and nine workshops, plus 16 training rooms. The Academy is operated by a staff of more than 20, including managers, administrators and trainers in specific skills, including vehicle servicing, parts, body and paint, technical and customer services.

Those attending the Academy can gain qualifications through courses in the Toyota Team 21 programme, including Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) accredited courses for young people starting out on their careers and functional skills such as maths, English and ICT.

The establishment of the Academy is a successful joint project between Toyota’s UK sales and marketing and manufacturing businesses, Toyota GB PLC and Toyota Manufacturing UK, with TMUK benefiting from additional office accommodation within the building.

The creation of a state of the art Academy has raised the bar in terms of the quality and standard of the training we are now able to provide – Paul Van der Burgh

Andy Pfeiffenberger said: “This new Academy shows Toyota’s commitment to investing in people to raise standards across our industry and I am very proud to be a part of this important and significant event. It is a great learning environment for our network staff in which to learn and for both TGB and TMUK to engage young people in our brand through our apprenticeship schemes.”

Paul Van der Burgh, President and Managing Director, Toyota (GB) PLC, said: “The creation of a state of the art Academy has raised the bar in terms of the quality and standard of the training we are now able to provide to our network staff and also for young people through both our TGB and TMUK Apprenticeship schemes. We have invested in the latest learning technologies and we are committed to inspiring learning and developing people’s skills across the board.”

Tony Walker, TMUK Deputy Managing Director, said: “The new Academy will support our efforts at TMUK to train apprentices and maintenance engineers to achieve nationally recognised qualifications. Not only do we train apprentices for Toyota, but also for supply chain companies and local engineering companies, operating as a centre of excellence.”

Toyota (GB) is proud of the success of its UK training programme, which has seen almost 250 sales consultants, after sales advisors and technicians achieve the highest gold or master status. Its apprentice programme, rated outstanding by Ofsted, currently trains 200 young people from its network of UK centres.

The quality of TMUK’s training programmes has been recognised with awards from the engineering skills organisation Semta in 2014 and 2015 and individual gold medal-winning performances in the World Skills Competition for the past three years. TMUK has also forged successful training partnerships with college and businesses from its local area in the East Midlands.