Fleet managers need to audit their skills to make sure they have the expertise needed to face the expected challenges of 2021.
That’s according to the Association of Fleet Professionals (AFP), with chair Paul Hollick saying that having the right skills could make the difference between success and failure in what promises to be a very challenging year.
Speaking with the launch of the AFP’s Training Academy calendar for 2021, he said: “It is clear to us that new demands are being placed on people working in our sector at a probably unprecedented pace.
“Part of this is structural change with the ongoing shift in role over time from fleet to mobility manager, while others are very much linked to the moment and the myriad of issues generated by the pandemic, the arrival of EVs, Brexit and more.
“What we would say to fleet managers is to look at the challenges facing you and audit your skills to ensure that you have the required expertise. Things are moving very quickly and there is a definite need to stay current.”
Hollick said the AFP had reconsidered the way its training is delivered in light of the coronavirus pandemic.
He said: “We are placing a greater accent on providing courses that can be delivered online and remotely, and placing more emphasis on time and cost-effectiveness.
“It’s fair to say that there is a lot of interest in training at the moment, both from individuals and in a corporate sense, and we are aiming to meet that demand in new ways that are suitable for the new fleet normal.”
Hollick added that the AFP had also added in more capacity for standalone training.
He said: “Conventional AFP training is geared towards the awarding of accreditations for individuals but sometimes people just want to learn how to do things.
“The units, which we are in the process of creating, would do just that – teach practical expertise in a single area.
“It’s an approach that we believe could make a lot of sense in 2021 and we plan to announce more details soon.”