It’s not that online training doesn’t have its place – it absolutely does. If that’s the route you or your team need to go down, we’ll help you identify the right questions to ask so you end up with a training provider that delivers exactly what you need.
Here at Pro-Tech, though, we believe there’s real power in classroom based training. In a room. With tools, vehicles, live demonstrations and a trainer who’s there in real time. It’s not just about ticking boxes – it’s about creating real learning that sticks.
Here’s why we still stand firmly behind classroom based training, particularly when you’re learning practical and technical automotive skills.
Focus and engagement are just better in person
One of the biggest advantages of classroom based training is the opportunity to step away from everyday distractions and focus properly on learning.
Let’s be honest – sitting through a webinar whilst you’re at work, or trying to concentrate on a training module with emails pinging and the workshop buzzing in the background, is a recipe for distraction. In a classroom setting, we get to remove all of these distractions for you. A 2022 study from the International Journal of Educational Research found that learners retain 25–60% more when training is delivered in person rather than online. When you are learning something technical, you need to be engaged – not multitasking. And in our experience, showing up in person gives you that headspace to actually take it all in.
Annual training might only come around once a year — but it really matters
When you’re only revisiting a subject annually, that one session needs to count. It’s your opportunity to refresh knowledge, get clarity on anything that’s changed, and bring up questions that may have cropped up on the job. It’s also a rare chance to step back and refocus — away from the day-to-day and into development mode. And it shouldn’t be underestimated. Research from Forbes shows that employees forget up to 70% of training content within 24 hours if it isn’t reinforced — which is why that annual check-in becomes even more crucial.
Classroom based training gives people the opportunity to engage more deeply, ask questions and work through the learning with other people in the room.
Why Hands-On Learning Matters in Classroom Based Training
You can read about diagnostics or EV safety protocols all day, but it’s a completely different thing to have a vehicle in front of you, to handle the tools, or to walk through a process step-by-step with a qualified and experienced trainer.
Practical training is also a formal part of becoming an MOT Tester, with GOV.UK setting minimum practical training requirements as part of the MOT Tester qualification course.
There’s just no substitute for it. You wouldn’t want someone diagnosing a high-voltage fault on your car if they’ve only ever watched a video about it — and neither would your customers.
You don’t just learn from the trainer — you learn from each other
One of the best parts of classroom training, particularly on the Annual Training sessions when you could find yourself among people with a variety of different levels of experience, is the conversation that happens around the edges. You hear how another MOT tester tackled a similar fault, or pick up a tip from someone with 20 years experience.
Peer-to-peer learning is another benefit of classroom based training that’s difficult to replicate in a recorded session. It’s the kind of knowledge-sharing that builds confidence, connection and real problem-solving in the real world.
You get instant feedback, and support when it matters
Online, it’s easy to feel like you’re just going through the motions. You might not even realise you’ve misunderstood something until it’s too late. In a classroom, our trainer can spot confusion straight away and adjust the pace or explain it differently. According to the University of Oxford’s Centre for Teaching and Learning, learners in in-person settings are 2.5 times more likely to ask questions and receive immediate clarification.
That immediate feedback is one of the real strengths of classroom based training, especially when you’re dealing with complex systems or safety-critical processes.
Confidence goes up – and that means better performance
There’s a noticeable shift in someone when they’ve physically done the thing they’ve been trained on. They leave the room with confidence — not just theory. The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) found that learners trained in person reported 34% higher confidence in applying new skills compared to those trained online. In this industry, confidence equals competence — and when you’re investing in upskilling your team, you want to be sure they’re walking away ready to do the job.
So yes, there’s absolutely a place for online training — and when it’s done well, it can be incredibly useful. But when you have the option to train in person, we believe it gives better results. Stronger learning. More confidence. And more real-world applications.
Could Your Team Benefit from Classroom Based Training?
Experience classroom based training with Pro-Tech MOT & Automotive Academy. Whether you’re looking at training for yourself or your team, we’d be happy to talk through what you need and the options available.
