Mazda opens new dealer training centre

Mazda UK has opened a new bespoke training centre that will centralise training for staff from across the Mazda dealer network.

The 11,000sq foot facility in Stewartby, Bedfordshire is designed to facilitate training for dealer roles from apprentice through to master technicians, as well as management training in sales and service roles.

It supports the launch of a range of new apprentice and technician training programmes.

Mazda’s new training centre has the capacity to host 40 delegates a day and also features a live broadcast room for remote online training.

Across the course of an average year, the Mazda Academy plans to host 5,500 delegates who will work with a dedicated team of three technical trainers and three commercial/product trainers.

Mazda UK sales director Peter Allibon said: “I’m delighted that we’ve opened this state-of-the art Mazda Academy facility that will not only host a range of important physical and virtual dealer training activities, but it will also include a studio for developing  video and to deliver live broadcast modules.

“The automotive industry is changing at a rapid pace, with new vehicle technologies and electrification, as well as changing customer demands and preferences, so supporting our dealer network in being set up for success through these changes is crucial and the new centre is an investment to ensure that’s exactly what we do.”

Allibon recently discussed the Japanese brand’s challenging launch of online retail, its direct vehicle imports to the UK and agency model retail in a wide-ranging interview with the AM News Show.

With a  custom fit-out, the building reflects the latest Mazda corporate identity across both floors. On the ground floor the reception area features a space for a display car from the Mazda UK Heritage fleet, while the digital studio enables live broadcasts and in-house training content creation. Two additional broadcast rooms are fully soundproofed for live training delivery. There’s also a large apprentice training room.

A large technical training workshop area features tool cabinets with integrated TV screens to transmit live trainer action footage. The workshop has space for eight cars in dedicated bays, plus is also equipped with EV charging points and is configured for training on combustion engine, plug-in hybrid and full battery electric vehicles.

Mazda Academy Manager, Rob Hancock, added: “We have capacity for 40 delegates onsite per  day, but in addition we will also train dealer staff from the live broadcast rooms, so can mix and match between face-to-face and online training.

“We will offer a brand new apprentice programme and launch a new Service, Senior and Master Technician online training programmes, which will include more bite-sized video tutorials ensuring ease of access to training at the point of need. In fact these video training clips are already supporting the launch of the all-new Mazda CX-60.”

In April, Mazda UK started shipping cars directly from Japan to the UK, shortening lead times to as little as 10 days.