Business

Electric Vehicle Industry Faces a Manpower Void as Colleges Race to Fill It

Published

1 year ago

August 2, 2024

The electric vehicle (EV) industry has developed at an unforeseen rate since catching public attention in the late 2000s. In 2023 alone, new electric car registrations in the United States reached 1.4 million, a 40% increase compared to 2022.

This surge in demand is not limited to the U.S.; Europe and China also saw significant increases in EV sales, with Europe recording nearly 3.2 million new registrations in 2023. With the market showing little signs of slowing down, EV sales are projected to reach around 17 million globally in 2024. That represents a 20% increase from the previous year.

Multiple factors, including government incentives, advancements in battery technology, and a growing consumer preference for greener transportation options, contribute to such robust growth.

Despite the positive outlook, the industry nonetheless holds its fair share of issues. Supply chain disruptions, battery metal price fluctuations, and increasing competition create market volatility.

Additionally, the sheer speed with which electric vehicles have been adopted has revealed a critical challenge: the skills gap in the workforce needed to support this burgeoning industry. The rise in EV purchases has also led to the need for a specialized workforce capable of designing, manufacturing, and maintaining these advanced vehicles.

Addressing the Skills Gap

The transition to electric vehicles requires a workforce equipped with a rather hefty and technical toolbox of skills. According to the Institute of the Motor Industry, stakeholders must urgently address retraining efforts to avoid facing a shortfall of 35,700 qualified technicians by 2030. This skills gap risks the industry’s growth and the broader goal of achieving zero-emission transportation.

To bridge this gap, educational institutions are stepping up to provide specialized training programs. Nova Anglia College(NAC) in Brisbane, Australia, is among the first to do so. NAC offers a non-engineering Bachelor of Technology in Electric Vehicles, a unique program designed to provide the theoretical knowledge and practical skills needed in the EV sector. Unlike traditional engineering programs, NAC’s curriculum combines vocational training with engineering principles.

Harpreet Kaur, the founder and CEO of Nova Anglia College, says that being one of the country’s first EV colleges, “We specifically designed and accredited our program to match near-future manpower demands. We provide specializedqualifications to support the global zero-emission initiative better.“

Skills for Future EV Professionals

The skills required for a career in the electric vehicle industry are diverse. Future EV professionals must be proficient in battery management, electric powertrain systems, and autonomous vehicle technology. Additionally, they must possess cross-domain engineering skills, including software development, electrical engineering, and electronics.

Nova Anglia College’s program is specifically designed to provide many of these skills. The curriculum includes courses on electric powertrain controls, vehicle mechanics, battery engineering, and embedded systems. Students also gain hands-on experience through industry placements and laboratory work, making them job-ready upon graduation.

Expert Projections for the Future EV Field

Industry experts agree that the transition to electric vehicles represents one of the most pivotal movements in the automotive sector since the Industrial Revolution. Josh Boone, executive director of EV advocacy group Veloz, notes, “This is one of thebiggest changes since the Industrial Revolution, and it’s not just transforming what powers the car.“

The demand for skilled professionals will only increase. Educational institutions like Nova Anglia College stand to play an essential role in preparing the workforce for this future. The need for sufficiently skilled workers must be addressed for the electric vehicle industry to continue its success.

Fortunately, with institutions like Nova Anglia College preparing the next generation, we can rest easy knowing the green revolution will keep going.

Business

Scaling Success: Why Smart Habits Beat Growth Hacks in Modern eCommerce

Published

1 month ago

July 26, 2025

Matthew Wiles

There’s a romanticized image of the eCommerce founder: a daring risk-taker chasing the next big idea, fueled by late-night caffeine and last-minute inspiration. But the reality behind scaled, sustainable brands tells a different story. Success in digital commerce doesn’t come from chaos or clever hacks. It comes from habits. Repetitive, structured, often unglamorous habits.

Change, a digital platform created by eCommerce strategist Ryan, builds its entire philosophy around this truth. Through education, mentorship, and infrastructure, Change helps founders shift from scrambling for quick wins to building strong systems that grow with them. The company doesn’t just offer software. It provides the foundation for digital trade, particularly for those in the B2B space.

The Habits That Build Momentum

At the heart of Change’s philosophy are five core habits Ryan considers non-negotiable. These aren’t buzzwords; they’re the foundation of sustainable growth.

First, obsess over data. Successful founders replace guesswork with metrics. They don’t rely on gut feelings. They measure performance and iterate.

Second, know your customer deeply. Not just what they buy, but why they buy. The most resilient brands build emotional loyalty, not just transactional volume.

Third, test fast. Algorithms shift. Consumer behavior changes. High-performing teams don’t resist this; they test weekly, sometimes daily, and adapt.

Fourth, manage time like a CEO. Every decision has a cost. Prioritizing high-impact actions isn’t optional; it’s survival.

Fifth, stay connected to mentorship and learning. The digital market moves quickly. The remaining founders are the ones who keep learning, never assuming they know it all.

Turning Habits into Infrastructure

What begins as personal discipline must eventually evolve into a team structure. Change teaches founders how to scale their systems, not just their sales.

Tools are essential for starting, think Notion for documentation, Asana for project management, Mixpanel or PostHog for analytics, and Loom for async communication. But tools alone don’t create momentum.

Teams need Monday metric check-ins, weekly test cycles, customer insight reviews, just to name a few. Founders set the tone by modeling behavior. It’s the rituals that matter, then, they turn it into company culture.

Ryan puts it simply: “We’re not just building tools; we’re building infrastructure for digital trade.”

Avoiding the Common Traps

Even with structure, the path isn’t always smooth. Some founders over-focus on short-term results, chasing vanity metrics or shiny tactics that feel productive but don’t move the needle.

Others fall into micromanagement, drowning in dashboards instead of building intuition. Discipline should sharpen clarity, not create rigidity. Flexibility is part of the process. Knowing when to pivot is just as important as knowing when to persist.

Scaling Through Self-Replication

In the end, eCommerce scale isn’t just about growing a business. It’s about repeating successful systems at every level. When founders internalize high-performance habits, they turn them into processes, then culture, then legacy.

Growth doesn’t require more motivation. It requires more precision. More consistency. Your calendar, not your to-do list, is your business plan.

In a space dominated by noise and novelty, Change and its founder are quietly reshaping the conversation. They aren’t chasing trends but building resilience, one habit at a time.