IMI receives widespread industry support on news of relicensing as the Sector Skills Council for the automotive retail sector
Key motor industry organisations have praised the Government relicensing of The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) as the Sector Skills Council (SSC) for the automotive retail sector, announced today (12 November 2009).
The announcement follows an independent performance review carried out by the National Audit Office (NAO) on behalf of the UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES) as part of the relicensing process for all 25 sector skills councils.
Commenting on the news of the relicensing, Paul Everitt, Chief Executive of the SMMT said:
“It is vital that the automotive industry has its own Sector Skills Council and we consider it a significant industry achievement that the IMI has been successfully relicensed having been in the role for less than 2 years. We have been impressed by the IMI’s progress in many areas, not least the development of initiatives such as the careers web portal, Autocity to promote careers in our sector and the progress made on Automotive Technician Accreditation (ATA).
We work closely with the IMI and look forward to developing our relationship in the coming months for the benefit of consumers, employers and employees in the motor industry.”
Retail Motor Industry Federation Chairman (RMIF) and Chairman of VERTU, Paul Williams said:
It was vital that the retail motor industry retained its own dedicated Sector Skills Council and we are delighted that the industry, via employers across the retail, parts, accident repair & motorcycle sectors have championed this result allowing the IMI to lead on the skills agenda. The industry has shown how it can work together and we are pleased to be working closely with the IMI for the benefit of employers, businesses and employees"
Douglas Robertson, Chief Executive of the Scottish Motor Trade Association (SMTA) said:
“The SMTA are delighted that the IMI has been relicensed as Sector Skills Council and has our admiration and respect for the very significant progress made since taking over the role of SSC in 2007.
Our involvement in the IMI Scottish Employers Forum has allowed us a detailed insight and involvement into your activities here in Scotland, the freshness of approach, willingness to listen and dynamic nature of your solutions have undoubtedly allowed the industry to be able to address some of the current issues and will provide a catalyst for future change. It is refreshing that you now have both the mandate and time to achieve the goals that the IMI has recognised as necessary for the future development of skills within the motor industry.”
As part of the relicensing assessment process, the IMI had to submit evidence to the NAO on how it had helped raise skill levels in the sector, was visited by the Commission and were also subject to panel interviews. As a result of this, the IMI achieved an overall score of ‘good’ although was rated as ‘outstanding’ in two of the four key themes assessed by the NAO.
The IMI was assessed as being an extremely good organisation that had made outstanding progress in a very short space of time since it took over the SSC licence. Evidence from the NAO report pointed to several key areas where they felt the IMI was particularly strong, these were:
*development of innovative products including ATA, Autocity and Headlight and coalescing support from employers for these;
*substantial progress achieved by the organisation since taking over the licence 18 months ago in rebuilding the credibility of the SSC with employers.
Steve Nash, Aftersales Director of BMW (UK) Ltd and President of the IMI said:
“The announcement that the IMI has been successfully relicensed as the Sector Skills Council significantly strengthens the Institute’s mandate to improve standards of professionalism across the motor industry through the qualification, development and recognition of individuals. This news means that the IMI can continue to work with employers and individuals to focus on delivering a better skilled and recognised workforce and make a positive difference to the way in which the automotive industry develops over the next year and into the future.”
Since combining forces with Automotive Skills to become the Sector Skills Council in 2007, the IMI has worked to establish itself in this role and generate demonstrable improvements in productivity and performance through a workforce which is better trained, qualified and recognised. Recent initiatives introduced to help the sector include a funding service for employers to help them obtain Government funding for training and help for apprentices facing redundancy due to the recession.
The IMI’s Automotive Technician Accreditation (ATA) scheme was highlighted in the NAO report as an exemplar accreditation model and was one of the ‘sector specific solutions’ that helped the IMI to achieve a rating of ‘outstanding’ in this category. The scheme, launched in 2005, now has over 18,000 accredited technicians and a similar accreditation scheme designed specifically for managers is currently being piloted.
Placing skills development and the recognition of ethical competence at the heart of the retail motor industry remains a key objective for the IMI. One of the major focuses of the organisation will be to build a professional register to promote competence, accountability and ethical behaviour which will incorporate both ATA and IMI membership. This will ensure that all members will gain maximum recognition and benefit from their affiliation with the Institute.
Lesley Woolley, Head of Professional Development at the IMI said:
“The development of a register of membership accessed by different, but always competent and professionally acceptable, routes is a sustainable way of maintaining membership and protecting the status and position of the IMI. This compliments the work we have already started to ensure that professional recognition is fit for purpose in tomorrow’s world.”