After we ran our two-part special feature on motorcycle technician training over the summer, BDN had a call from Alex Worsfold with another point of view, this time from the training front line. Worsfold, who was a tech at P&H Motorcycles, Crawley, now runs motorcycle technician training courses at North Kent College near Tonbridge. The college runs a range of courses aimed at school leavers in full-time education, as well as apprenticeships and day-release courses, all focussing on motorbike maintenance and repair at IMI (Institute of Motor Industry) Level Two and Level Three.
Worsfold has long established roots at the college, having taken the course himself back when he was starting out as a motorcycle technician at P&H. But he wasn’t completely happy with the course as it was back then – top heavy with car technicians and with only three bike techs in training. “After about four or five months on the course, I had a meeting with the management and said it’s not good enough. I’m here for a career. So they then employed a specialist motorcycle lecturer, Andy Joyce. He used to work for Ducati UK; he was one of the after-sales managers there, so he has loads of knowledge.”
And it was Andy Joyce who later persuaded Worsfold to move into teaching. “At P&H, I did their in-house training and then did a Honda apprenticeship, followed by diagnostic and master’s tech qualifications. I also took part in Öhlins suspension training in Sweden and Andreani training in Italy, going on to support Thundersport GB for Öhlins, carrying out setups and rider support as well as rebuilds and servicing. Then, my old lecturer Andy said, ‘do you want to try teaching?’
“I was thrown in at the deep end, and studied for my teaching qualification while I was at the college. In the time I’d been away, Andy had grown the course into a dedicated motorcycle group, and we now have 16 or 17 full-time students. This year, we’ve taken on another staff member as a motorcycle technician to assist with the workshop and help me set up a new diagnostic course.”
Speaking to Worsfold, it’s clear he has a passion for training. “I joke about how I became a teacher and technical instructor, but the reason I am still in the job is because I love the industry. I want to do what I can to support it and supply it with talented young technicians. I regularly get job offers from the dealerships I work with and while it’s tempting – I miss working on bikes all day long! – there is nothing more rewarding than catching up with old students flourishing in their technician roles.”
Alex WorsfoldNorth Kent College runs a large agricultural training department alongside the bike courses on its Hadlow campus. Which means it has the resources to help with residential places for full-time students, potentially making it easier for dealerships outside the South East to source training. But as it is, the course has a wide catchment area. “Some of our full-time learners are coming from as far away as Colchester and Reading. We really cover the whole of the South East, and that’s purely because there’s hardly anyone else that does.”
It’s not just school leavers who are taking advantage of the North Kent course. “We have a great variety of students, not just 16-year-olds. My oldest student is 62, and we have a gentleman starting next year who’s run multiple businesses in the past. He’s approaching 50, has made his money, and now wants to set up a business making custom bikes.”
Worsfold is keen to help anyone in the industry looking to sort out their own training needs. “Our main message is, ‘we are here’. We want to grow and support dealers and independents. Any support from the industry, such as resources or work placements, will be greatly appreciated and will help alleviate the current technician drought.”
Get in touch with Alex at: [email protected]
www.northkent.ac.uk