Race ace Cleland boosts Scottish motor industry's skills mission
Former two-time British Touring Car champion, John Cleland, Dealer Principal at Clelands Jaguar in Galashiels, has joined forces with the Institute of the Motor Industry (IM) to drive forward its mission to improve skills in the retail motor industry in Scotland.
The IMI, which is the Sector Skills Council for the retail motor industry and its professional association for individuals working in the trade, wants 40,000 'home grown' apprentices working in the UK's automotive sector by 2013, an increase of 100% on today's figure. This will ensure that the workforce remains sufficiently qualified to handle future vehicle technology, which in many cases is already as complex as some aircraft.
Announcing Mr Cleland's membership of the IMI's Scottish Employers Forum, Sandy Burgess, the IMI's National Manager Scotland, said:
"Being able to call on John's experience within championship motor sport gives us a unique edge and can only add value to our experienced group of employers, which are working together to help raise skills standards within our industry to improve future business performance."
The IMI's Scottish Employers Forum has over twenty-five members representing a cross-section of Scotland's retail motor sector, including dealer groups, public utility and delivery companies, small and medium sized garages, as well as representatives from industry dealer associations. The Forum meets three times per year to discuss ways of developing workforce skills and associated benefits for the Scottish motor industry. The IMI welcomes all businesses which would like to take part and they are invited to contact Sandy Burgess via email [email protected] for further details.
Linked to the activity of the Forum is the IMI's objective to promote careers within the motor industry and it has just launched a dedicated careers information web-site, called Autocity (www.motor.org.uk/careers). This features videos of real people in real jobs, aimed at informing school pupils, parents, teachers, careers advisors, colleges and training providers, as well as showing employers how the industry is working to improve public perceptions of the motor sector as a desirable career choice.
Additionally, the IMI will be exhibiting at the Scottish Learning Festival 2008 which takes place on 24-25 September at the SECC and Clyde Auditorium in Glasgow. Free to all teachers and educationalists, the Scottish Learning Festival 2008 is the largest annual conference and exhibition on the Scottish education calendar. Now in its 9th year, the event covers key educational issues and initiatives, contributes to continuing professional development, shares innovative practice for the classroom and showcases new teaching resources.
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