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Garage Support Supporting you and your business

2023 Issue 2

What’s inside? • Air Conditioning There are millions of cars and light commercial vehicles on the road fitted with air-con as standard. • Bringing new talent It’s no secret that our sector is facing a serious skills shortage, especially when it comes to young people choosing to start their career in automotive. • And more

Opportunities and solutions for your workshop

Call your local branch now!

A message from our CEO

Air-Con – Don’t miss out

Why invest in Air-con Equipment

The sun is shining and it’s officially time to think about what summer means for you, your garage and your customers. It won’t be long before the phone lines are flooded with requests for air con servicing and repairs – and the last thing you want is to wait until then to get your equipment in shape and team members trained up and ready to go!

There are more cars on the road then ever before!

You can find out more about the air conditioning opportunity on pages 3, 4 and 5 – including specific considerations for the hybrids and EVs becoming increasingly common in the independent aftermarket. Air con servicing can form part of a wider summer health check – a good idea for motorists before they hit the roads for their summer getaways. There’s a handy checklist on page 3, and a link to resources you can download and display in your garage, to help with upselling. Whether your customers are travelling by car, campervan or with a caravan this summer, we’ve got everything you need to send them on their way. On page 6, we look at how to keep your workforce happy and motivated, and a lot of this advice is based on our own experience. At LKQ Euro Car Parts we’ve invested heavily in becoming an employer of choice and making sure we offer what our colleagues need – and want – from us every day. We’re hope we can help others by sharing our journey, as together we work to improve diversity and attract talent into our sector.

There are millions of cars and light commercial vehicles on the road fitted with air-con as standard. And what’s more, the vast majority of all new vehicle registrations now come with air-con as standard. Plus – did you know all Electric Vehicles (EV’s) are fitted with air-con as standard. Air-con is not part of a routine vehicle service. Consequently, it often becomes an after-thought despite manufacturers recommending Different Types of Gas Up until the end of 2016 vehicles could be fitted with either 134a or R1234yf gas systems. Changes in EU legislation now means that every car manufactured from the beginning of 2017 can only be fitted with the R1234yf gas systems. The chances of a vehicle coming into your garage with R1243yf gas are fast increasing, so whether you’re looking to add air-con as an additional service you offer or are looking to upgrade your existing machine, you need to make sure you have the right equipment. If you’re currently outsourcing air-con servicing because you don’t have the right equipment at your garage, you should consider purchasing one. This will ensure you avoid turning away customers. • Increased revenue streams for your workshop • Minimal technician hands on time • Avoid subcontracting the work out to another garage • Increased customer satisfaction and retention. that the system should be checked and serviced regularly. • Millions of vehicles are fitted with air-con systems as standard – and constantly increasing in volume • Air-con systems should be serviced every 12 months • Gas should be topped up every year. Benefits Offer a FREE Summer Health Check Maximise your opportunity A stress-free trip As the warmer weather approaches, it's likely that many customers will be planning a staycation and relying on their vehicle for transportation. By offering a FREE summer health check, you can give your customers the confidence and assurance they need as they embark on their summer getaway. A revenue opportunity not to be missed

Until next time!

Andy Hamilton, CEO, LKQ Euro Car Parts

Over 50% of vehicles now use the new 1234yf gas

Community means many things to us at LKQ Euro Car Parts, from our colleagues and customers – and the causes they care about – to the people local to our sites and branches. We’ve achieved a lot over the last year and thought we’d share of the highlights we’re proud of: Doing good in the community

As part of our ongoing support for Ukraine, this Easter we delivered 700 chocolate eggs, hundreds of preloved teddy bears and lots of hand drawn pictures from our colleagues children. Thank you to all of our customers and colleagues for your continued support – watch this space for

Colleagues across our network have been busy raising money for Ukraine. The £63,000 we raised meant we could buy two ambulances for hospitals in the west of the country. And we’ve helped Ukrainian children to go on summer camps, provided toys to help them continue enjoying life, and collected so many Christmas presents a HGV was needed to take them over there!

other ways to get involved with our fundraising efforts.

As always, our teams have been busy with sponsored challenges, fundraising events, bake sales and more. Shout out to branch managers Brad Shuttleworth and Mark Birkhead, for cycling from Manchester to Blackpool to fundraise for Sarcoma UK.

Here to support you To help you offer a Summer Health check we’ve developed a variety of digital and print based promotional assets for you to use – totally FREE of charge to you.

Get yours at omnipart now

No only do your customers get peace of mind from a stress free trip – you have the potential revenue opportunity from work identified on your customers vehicle.

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Air-Con in Hybrid and Electric vehicles

Service & Warranty

Protect your investment and maximise revenue Once you’re kitted out and ready to service a vehicles AC system, you then need to consider keeping your AC machine in tip-top condition. Choose one of our packages to suit your needs and requirements to protect your investment and maximise revenue.

Air-con systems on Hybrid and Electric Vehicles (EV’s) cars aren’t just necessary for a cold, comfortable cabin. EV air-con systems are also essential in ensuring the electric motors, batteries and axles remain cool. Electric car components get very hot when in use and could overheat and fail without a fully operational and well maintained air-con system.

1 to 5 Year Service Packages Buy one of our packages and don’t worry about your annual service for the next 1 to 5 years

2 to 5 Year Warranty Packages

Offers apply to any new machine purchased or any machine purchased in the previous 12 months through LKQ Euro Car Parts

5 Year € 1,499 .00 4 Year €1, 199 .00 3 Year € 999 .00 2 Year € 419 .00 1 Year € 280 .00 PRICES FROM

5 Year € 1,349 .00 4 Year € 1,199 .00 3 Year € 999 .00 2 Year € 699 .00 PRICES FROM

What air-con gas is used for Hybrid and EV’s? You may be wondering what air-con gas is suitable to use on a Hybrid or EV? There are things we need to consider before re-gasing an air-con system on an electric vehicle however the type of gas needed is likely to be determined on when the car was manufactured as opposed to whether it’s an EV. As most electric cars have been manufactured in the last 4 years you’ll probably need the new generation air-con gas R1234YF. Hybrid cars manufactured before 2018 may still require the traditional R134A gas.

Service Packages

Warranty Packages

To help you maximise your opportunity we’ve created a special bespoke marketing pack when you purchase any AC machine, gas and Service pack.

EV PAG oil Using the correct PAG oil is essential when re-gasing a Hybrid or EV air-con system. If the incorrect PAG oil was used then there’s a risk is could conduct high voltage to the compressor case or connected components. This could potentially lead to damage to components and even electric shock. This is why all our air-con equipment uses a universal PAG oil in every re-gas. Universal PAG oil is suitable for both R1234A & R134YF gas and is suitable to use on both Hybrid and Electric cars.

Service Packages

Warranty Packages

Any Service or Warranty

Any Gas

Any Machine

Signs of decreasing range in EV • When your air-con refrigerant is low, the air-con system has to work harder to cool the air in the cabin. This extra work uses more power and reduces your EV range. • Your air-con isn’t as cold as it used to be and may even feel like it’s blowing warm air • When you switch the air-con on it smells musty and have a stale odour • You notice more condensation on your windows • Test the temperature of the vehicle using a temperature probe.

Find out more at omnipart

Replacing cabin filters on an EV? Electric cars have far less filters than a conventional car which means servicing is much simpler than it is for a petrol or diesel powered vehicles. However, one very important filter they do still need is the cabin filter. Electric vehicle manufacturers usually recommend you change the cabin filter every 2 years.

Place this at your workshop to let customers know that you offer Air-con Re-Gas and maximise those revenue driving opportunities. Simply choose your products to suit you and we’ll do the rest.

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Bringing more apprentices to the industry

Did you know colleges have Level 3 apprentices

It’s no secret that our sector is facing a serious skills shortage, especially when it comes to young people choosing to start their career in automotive. But there are so many advantages to working in the independent aftermarket, from training and specialist qualifications, to the opportunity to become your own boss. So, what should we be doing to make sure we’re attracting – and keeping – the best talent? 1. F air pay and financial support through the cost of living crisis Fair pay is closely linked to labour rates. Have you put your rates up in line with inflation? Doing so is critical to remaining profitable – so consider whether your rates need to be increased and how best to communicate any changes to customers. A small increase to your hourly rates could be the difference between losing or keeping your most valuable member of staff. Most customers will be open and accepting of any price increases, especially if you’re transparent about it, and continue to offer great service and support!

The IMI ' s Automotive Apprentice ROI Calculator

looking for roles right now?

3. Training and development

Training should be ongoing throughout your team’s careers, so it’s worth checking whether they’re due any refreshers, or want to upskill in any new areas. When it comes to new vehicles, our advice is to focus on diagnostics, then ADAS and then hybrid/ EV. But don’t neglect the brilliant basics – remember diesel and petrol vehicles will be around for a long time yet, and features like brakes are ever-present and ever-critical! This is also something for workshop owners nearer retirement to focus on. Equipping a potential successor with both business and technical skills is a good way to line them up to buy and run the business one day.

Steve Nash , CEO of the I I , said : “ Some firms facing the upfront cost of funding apprentices may feel that it can ’ t be justified . But our ROI Calculator proves the contrary . e urge all employers to use the online tool to estimate the net benefit .

The IMI’s ROI Calculator shows that a level 3 apprentice in automotive maintenance and repair can deliver a return on investment of more than 200% over the course of three years. What’s more, apprentices typically start to yield a profit within 12 to 24 months! Our free online tool is an easy way to gauge how quickly different apprentices pay off . This transparency is particularly welcome given the recent slump in the number of young people taking up apprenticeships in the industry .

4.Diversity Female employment opportunities are growing in garages and bodyshops, but the number of women working in the sector is still tiny. But there’s a real opportunity to encourage more women into the industry. Research has shown that more diverse teams make better decisions and can better understand and meet the needs of their customers.

2. Flexible working arrangements

Perceptions are changing when it comes to what employers should offer in terms of flexibility and a work life balance. Consider offering late starts or early finishes, or the opportunity to take a longer lunch once a week. If planned in advance, flexibility doesn’t have to cause disruption, but can offer huge benefits to your staff.

At LKQ Euro Car Parts, we’re committed to improving gender balance and female diversity, which is why we’re launching our 25 by 25 plan. Running across every part of our business, 25 by 25 is our strategy to ensure at least a quarter of the LKQ Euro Car Parts workforce is made up of women by 2025. It’s an ambitious commitment, but it’s important to be bold if you want to bring about change. We’ve got less than two years to shift the percentage of women in our workforce from 20% to 25%, but we’re determined to do it. As the leading supplier in our sector, we’re proud to be taking a lead and we’ll be sharing our learnings as we go to encourage businesses of all sizes to make positive changes of their own.

Ta e a loo now at the IMI ’ s free - to - use ROI calculator for apprentices and see what your return could be : www . theimi . org . u / roi /

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Travel and Leisure

Start preparations early, many customers will be looking to get their vehicle set up for a staycation – and a towbar might be just what they need. Whether your customer wants to tow a trailer, caravan, bike carrier, horsebox or boat trailer, Brink always has the right towbar and wiring kit meet requirements. Staycation Ready

The Elegant Retractable towbar • Invisible • Retractable • Immediately available.

The Green Bike carrier solution • Developed for

The Invisible Vertically detachable towbar • Invisible • Available in seconds • Does not affect the design of your car. The Professional Flanged ball towbar

electrical and hybrid vehicles • Carrying solution only • Detachable. The Classic Fixed towbar • Maintenance free • Permanently available • Lasts the lifetime of a vehicle.

The All-Rounder

Diagonally detachable towbar • Excels in user-friendliness • Sleeve is easy to reach • Available in seconds.

• Adjustable in height • Permanently available • Made for heavy-duty work.

DRIVING THE INDUSTRY FORWARD TOGETHER The IMI is the professional body for the automotive community. Our vision is to build a global, diverse, skilled and adaptable automotive community. We do this by providing the sector with the best skills and tools to be the best they can be, fulfilling their career ambitions.

Search by Reg

Find the right towbar with Brink, head to omnipart.eurocarparts. com and type in the vehicle

ENTER REG

SEARCH NOW

Leisure Batteries Spring – Summer 2023

Attracting talent and developing skills Inspiring a more diverse workforce to join the sector and developing ongoing skills from Leadership and Managers, to MOT testers and Technicians.

Adapting to the future Giving our member community a collective voice on future sector challenges, through continued Government. discussion and lobbying.

Changing perceptions and instilling confidence

Embracing emerging technology Offering e-learning

Raising professional standards and public

qualifications and CPD for EV and Hydrogen vehicles, as well as the use of Real Wear Technology End Point Assessments.

confidence across the sector through the IMI Professional Register and TechSafe recognition.

Check out our new brochure

Batteries covering: • Mobility • Motorcycle • Golf Batteries • Marine and leisure • Garden machinery

To find out more about our work or joining the IMI Community, visit www.theimi.org.uk or call us on +441992 511521 . #IMICommunity

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Training

Training

Check out our training prospectus

Boost Your Business with Learning and Development

Ireland’s BIGGEST and BEST VALUE automotive training provider – Just got BETTER!

Don’t just take our word for it LKQ Euro Car Parts has been awarded Partner of the Year 2023 for their work with LKQ Academy

check out our training courses here

Hybrid and electric vehicle sales are rising fast Don’t get left behind when it comes to servicing and repairing hybrid and electric vehicles (EV). With government plans to cut emissions by stopping the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030 and multiple car manufacturers such as Volvo and Ford committing to a 100% electric range by 2030, the change is inevitable. There is no doubt that hybrid and EV’s will become the vehicle of choice over the coming years and beyond.

New Garage memberships – available now Our memberships are the best value way to train and make the most of our award winning training offering. Even better we’ve added more options, so that you can pick a membership that suits you and your workshop the most!

The switch to EV’s continues to gather pace, with a record one in five new car registrations now plug-ins

Our Garage level memberships

NEW

NEW

NEW

Big opportunity for your business! Only 16% of UK and ROI technicians are training to work on hybrid and EV’s safely. That is a very small number considering the volume of technicians needed by 2030.

Did you know? …LKQ Euro Car Parts has already trained more than

Bronze

Silver

Gold

Did you know? ...90,000 automotive technicians will be required to provide sufficient workforce to service the volume of zero emissions vehicles predicted to be on UK and ROI roads by 2023.

Platinum

4,000 technicians on Hybrid and EV’s.

Don’t miss out, join them today.

Our Garage level memberships The perfect solution to upskill your entire workshop

Our most popular Hybrid and EV courses

Bronze 263990080

Silver 263990070

Gold 263990060

Platinum 263990000

Membership Level

3 2

5 3

unlimited unlimited

Practical training days

Level 2 & 3 IMI Award in Electric/Hybrid 263773020

Level 4 IMI Award in Electric/Hybrid 263773040

5

unlimited

eLearning courses

Included in our training packages

Included in our training packages

€749

€999

€1,199

€1,699

Cost

• Routine maintenance activities, vehicle system repair and replacement.

• The diagnosis, testing and repair of electric/hybrid vehicles and components.

All our courses are fully accredited by

Two day course Level 2 & 3 = 14 IMI Credits

Two day course Level 4 = 14 IMI Credits

Go to www.lkqacademy.ie for all courses details Start your training journey today

www.lkqacademy.ie To find out more about our EV and Hybrid courses visit

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The 1TEC Auto Hub programme has been developed to support you with all the tools, training and business benefits to not only grow, but future-proof your workshop against whatever's next on the automotive horizon. 1TEC Auto Hub a Garage Network prepared for the Future.

What you’ll get when you join the 1TEC Auto Hub community?

Ready to take the next step? www.1TEC.com

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