News and Events

Update on development of the Diploma in Retail Business

The introduction and successful implementation of the Diploma in Retail Business is one of the most significant and ground breaking developments in education and training for the last fifty years. The new qualification will benefit learners who will enjoy its engaging and innovative approach. Its emphasis on work related learning will help learners value the opportunities that retail businesses can offer, including automotive retail. The Diploma is designed also to benefit employers, who will be able to recruit keen and knowledgeable people who understand retail and its supply chain.

Progress on Principal Learning

Following the publication of the Line of Learning Criteria for the Diploma in Retail Business in the summer, the development of Principal Learning is now well underway. Submissions have been received from four major awarding bodies to offer the Principal Learning for the Diploma.

The Diploma Development Partnership – with IMI as a key member - has carried out a review of preliminary submissions for Principal Learning. The intention is for this process to conclude by the end of June 2009 when the regulatory bodies will confirm accreditation. Awarding Organisations will then have time to publicise their offerings to consortia in September 2009, one year before first teaching is due to begin.

Specialist Learning

Following on from the development and accreditation of Principal Learning for the Diploma it is crucial that a range of complementary high quality specialist qualifications are made available. Specialist qualifications will be the key to ensuring more specific needs of employers are met and also that progression to higher education, further training or into work is assured. Awarding Organisations are being invited to identify qualifications for specialist learning.

Gateway Process

The Gateway 3 Process for consortia who wish to offer the Diploma from September 2010 is now well underway. Applications from consortia have been received and are being reviewed.  The DDP is meeting during the third week of December to carry out quality assurance on a sample of consortia applications. The DDP will also be asked to comment early in 2009 on coverage of consortia at regional and national level. Guidance for consortia can be found on the Diploma website.

Communications

The new Diploma website has been launched with comprehensive links to other sources of information: www.diplomainretailbusiness.com. The Line of Learning Criteria for Retail Business can be found at Ofqual: www.ofqual.gov.uk/788.aspx

Volkswagen Rewards Top Apprentice at Silverstone

Volkswagen’s national training and development department, the Volkswagen Academy, has partnered with Volkswagen Racing UK to recognise the success of their technical and parts apprentices and to recognise the exceptional achievements of one newly-graduated Volkswagen Apprentice.

The Academy invited every Volkswagen Apprentice to graduate in 2008 to spend a full day with the Volkswagen Racing Team at Silverstone Circuit for a once in a lifetime experience. The day encompassed driving the full range of Volkswagen’s performance road cars around the famed track, before enjoying a ride to remember in one of the Racing team’s fully race-prepared Volkswagens. 

For one newly qualified Apprentice there was another surprise, Ben Warwick from Crawley Volkswagen was named the first Apprentice of the Year 2008 in recognition of his achievements this year with Apprentice Programme and The Academy, both academic and personal. Head of Volkswagen Racing, Sam Roach, awarded Ben the opportunity to join the Volkswagen Racing race technical team for three race meetings in 2009.

“What Ben has achieved is fantastic,” said Roach, “and we at Volkswagen Racing wanted to recognise his hard work through this unique prize. We need the very best technicians who are motivated to work to the highest standards to form our race technical team. Ben has of course more than proven his technical abilities, but just as importantly we have seen first hand his positive and can-do attitude to his work."

Ben will take his place alongside a group of Volkswagen Racing technicians running the ‘works’ race cars at some of the UK’s highest-profile circuits in the high-profile Volkswagen Racing Cup.  He will be helping to prepare cars such as the Volkswagen Jetta, the Golf GTI and new Scirocco to the exacting standards demanded by a national racing championship.

“The Volkswagen Academy and the Volkswagen Apprenticeship Programme are pleased to support and develop our future technicians and parts department staff and by celebrating the success in this fantastic event” Matthew Barham  Aftersales Training and Development Manager states “we are also pleased this year to have the support from our awarding body the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) who have offered our Apprentice of the Year Ben a years complimentary IMI membership, a trophy and a celebratory bottle of champagne, I think this reflects the importance of our class leading apprenticeship programme, I think this first Apprentice of the Year and the graduation will become very inspirational to the future individuals of our industry”

Professional Recognition for Euroshine

Euroshine has become the first valeting company to request its entire staff gain professional recognition by signing up to membership of the IMI.

Pictured are staff from the St Neots, Peterborough and Huntingdon sites receiving their Affiliate membership certificates from Michelle Barrett one of the IMI’s National Managers for England, and the owner Steven Deverick who founded the company in October 2000 and whose clients now include TC Harison Ford, Elms BMW, and Ikea, Debenhams and Icemann fleets.

Commenting on what membership means to the company, Steven said: “I’m delighted that all the Euroshine team have taken this first step into IMI membership. In today’s motor industry, professional credibility is really important and membership of the IMI shows that we have been recognised for our professionalism and our commitment to a code of ethical conduct”

All the staff are now working towards gaining professional qualifications and the company have accessed funds to assist this through the Government’s Train to Gain programme. Steve is also helping the IMI to develop new National Occupational Standards (NOS) in the valeting sector. These standards will then help in the development of new qualifications specifically related to valeting which in time his staff and other valetors can then work towards.

IGA Chairman becomes IMI Fellow

IGA Chairman Jonas Zambakides has been elected a Fellow of the IMI, the highest level of IMI membership. Zambakides was presented with his Fellow of the IMI (FIMI) certificate at the RMIF Regional Meeting (Region V), held at the Williams F1 Conference Centre in Grove, Oxfordshire in November.  Michelle Barrett, IMI National Manager – England, made the surprise presentation at the event.

Commenting on the award, Zambakides said:  “It’s fantastic. You work to achieve something in your business, but other than the success of the business itself, you rarely get acknowledged. The most satisfying thing is the recognition by the industry that this represents.”

The level of Fellow is a Level Five national qualification, equivalent to a Diploma of Management Studies, or a Masters in Business Administration (MBA), plus five years experience in senior management, of which two years must be in the retail motor sector.

Zambakides membership was achieved through the Institute’s assessment route. This validates current competence based on the true level of managerial performance, and involves a visit to the business premises by an IMI-accredited assessor, and Sarah Sillars, the IMI Chief Executive.

Women & Work Awards

Three participants who took part in the IMI Women & Work upskilling programme to progress their career in the motor industry, were honoured at the Landrover Jaguar Autocourse Challenge 2008 Awards dinner in September 2008. They were presented with the Awards by Bill Fennell, Customer Service Director of Jaguar Cars Ltd, and Motoring journalist Quentine Wilson.

Chloe Smith from H A Fox Jaguar, Guildford was winner of the Jaguar Aftersales Excellence Award and Sarah-Jane Smith from Guy Salmon Jaguar, Oxford was a finalist in the Jaguar Aftersales Excellence Awards (pictured). Carly Alliband from Guy Salmon Land Rover, Stratford on Avon was winner of the  Land Rover Aftersales and Excellence Award.

Women & Work is a £10 million Government initiative for England, designed to encourage more women into the industry and enable those already in employment to develop skills they may need.

Balgores Motor Group - Six of the Best

Six Estimators from the Balgores Motor Group have recently become ATA accredited, the start of a group wide initiative to join the ATA scheme.

Andy Pennell, Group Operations Manager for the Balgores Motor Group commented 'I am very proud to announce that we now have six ATA accredited estimators. Part of my job role is to train and audit our estimators to ensure that we are all working to the same high and accurate level. We are very pleased that Christian Reed, Lee Dallard, Scott Whitlock, Matt Davis, Richard Vine and myself have all passed the ATA estimator exam. We could have opted for the easier option of the B47 advanced estimator but believe that by becoming ATA accredited we have shown our commitment and dedication to the job in hand. It is my intention that, over the coming months, all of our estimators should become ATA accredited. On a personal level I am very pleased to have been asked to be on the Audatex Technical Committee and the Audi Technical Committee. I feel privileged to be asked on to these committees.' 
                            
Picture left to right, Scott Whitlock, Lee Dallard, Andy Pennell, Christian Reed, Richard Vine and Matt Davis.

FE Innovation Fund

From 25 July 2008 FE colleges and training providers can tap into a new fund to help them connect with businesses in an innovative and collaborative way.

This fund has been created to help England compete in the global skills race – putting the FE sector at the heart of improving the skills of businesses and individuals. It will help unlock the talent of the FE workforce and drive business innovation, enabling FE colleges and training providers to refine and expand the way they manage and deliver their employer training solutions. Finally, it will allow them to learn from their experiences, and share that learning more widely.

Read more ...

Recognising Training Excellence - celebrating successes

The IMI are delighted to announce that the following vehicle manufacturers have achieved the Training Quality Standard (TQS): Scania GB Ltd, Jaguar Land Rover Technical Academy and BMW Group Academy UK - pictured receiving their certificate at the public launch of the TQS in London with David Lammy, MP Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Skills, is Kevin Phelps from Jaguar Landrover. There are some case studies on the TQS website which we recommend you look at, click on www.trainingqualitystandard.co.uk for more information together with coverage of the launch event.

The IMI also congratulate Thatcham and Manchester College of Arts and Technology who have achieved the Standard, the latter with a specialism Part B in motor vehicle provision.

The IMI are committed to developing a UK wide benchmark quality standard for training in the motor industry. In England we have worked with the National Learning and Skills Council in the development of the TQS. Working with governments, key partners and stakeholders, the IMI are exploring the potential for a benchmark quality standard in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales to enable consistency in quality across the UK.

For more information click here or email Adrian Lawson adrianl@motor.org.uk