Renault streamlines automotive training

Renault has entered into a two-year deal with Kangan Institute's Automotive Centre of Excellence (ACE) to provide training for apprentices working at the importer's dealerships around the nation.

The deal – with the option to extend a further two years – will commence from January 2016 and will run through to December 2018. Training will take place at a bespoke facility named the Renault Academy at Renault's new headquarters in suburban Mulgrave, to the south east of Melbourne.

"Since 2001 we have delivered over 68,000 vehicles into the Australian market," said Renault Australia MD Justin Hocevar during a ceremony this morning to announce the partnership.

"Therefore, as we deliver more vehicles, the service task of our dealer network increases. And therefore, the demand for highly skilled technicians rises.

"Recognising this need, we resolved to build our own, state-of-the-art facility right here... And we have partnered with Kangan Institute and their Automotive Centre of Excellence to deliver an end-to-end training programme for apprentice technicians.

"Over the next five years, over 200 apprentice technicians will have their automotive careers kicked off over a three-to-four-year course... all the while learning on the job, at their dealership.

"In addition, we have installed facilities here that allow us to restore and repair high-tech electric vehicle batteries. The Renault-Nissan Alliance, as we know it, is the world leader in zero-emission vehicles. More than of all zero-emission vehicles delivered come from either the Renault or the Nissan brand.

"So we're planning the infrastructure for the future – zero emissions – right now. And we have the tools in place to have the right technicians to meet that need."

The Renault Academy will also provide additional training for staff to make it all the way to the status of master technician. For Kangan the Renault deal is the first time the Institute has entered into an agreement to provide a training programme across the nation.

Following the formal speechmaking during the ceremony, Hocevar explained to motoring.com.au that the apprentice training partnership established with Kangan made sound financial sense.

"This has turned out to be financially quite effective," he said. "We've been able to consolidate under the one roof – which was what we were already doing, but in Sydney."

The company can control the training better in its own facility, Hocevar explained, and the Renault Academy is set up for the high-tech training that will stand staff in good stead for a zero-emissions future. Kangan's involvement with Renault arose out of the importer's approach to the Victorian government.

"They [the government] were able to help us identify partners," he said, "And then we went through an assessment process with those partners."

The Kangan tutors will train apprentices at the Renault Academy, a spotlessly clean facility – for the present – fitted out to create a benign, but inspirational work environment. Above apprentice level there are three strata of training technicians must undergo before being considered a 'master technician' by Renault. Renault's own technical staff will provide this 'post-apprentice' training.

It's the master technicians who become 'mentors' to the junior technical staff across the national dealer network.

Explaining the background to the establishment of the new head office – with some assistance from the Victorian government – Hocevar revealed that sales of the Renault brand in Australia had grown more than five-fold during the five years he had been the local MD. Furthermore, there's no immediate end in sight for the brand's accelerating sales volume here.

"Our business is growing – but we're only getting started," Hocevar said. "Renault has been headquartered in Victoria since 2001, and has been in Mulgrave now for the last three years.

When he stepped into his current role during 2010, annual sales for Renault finished the year at 1900 vehicles delivered. This year the importer expects to deliver 10,000 new cars, with growth next year set to take the company's 2016 sales figure up to 12,000.

"Today, to meet the needs of our growing business, we need a larger premises," Hocevar said. According to the Renault boss, staffing levels at Renault's Aussie head office have reached 57, but are anticipated to level off at 83 in 2020.

Pictured (left to right): Lily D'Ambrosio, Victorian Minister for Industry, Justin Hocevar, Renault Australia MD, Amanda Brook, Interim CEO of Bendigo Kangan TAFE