IMI News

10,000th technician receives ATA accreditation

A motor technician from Renault Enfield has become the 10,000th technician to achieve Automotive Technician Accreditation (ATA) status from The Institute of the Motor Industry.

A special presentation awaited Darren Wilson, aged 27 from Harlow, who works in the workshop at Renault Enfield. at the British International Motor Show at Excel, where he was presented with a bottle of champagne, along with his card, by Sarah Sillars OBE, CEO of the IMI.

The ATA programme is a voluntary assessment scheme for technicians working in the motor industry, governed by IMI, the sector’s professional association. Darren becomes the 10,000th technician to have ATA status since it was started in 2005.

To achieve accreditation, motor technicians must pass a series of practical assessments and an online test at an ATA Approved Assessment Centre, or achieve a standard of competency with a manufacturer-approved scheme such as the Senior Technician scheme run by Renault – the route taken by Darren.

There are three competency levels: Service Maintenance Technician, Diagnostic Technician and Master Technician with reassessment every five years to ensure technicians are up-to-date with the latest technological innovations.

Although many automotive technicians are assessed for ATA accreditation via independent test centres, Renault has embraced the ideals of the ATA programme to complement its own continuous professional development programme.

Darren’s boss, Ian Jupp, Regional Service Manager for Renault Retail Group, the group that owns Renault Enfield, said: “Congratulations to Darren who has worked hard and gained his ATA accreditation by becoming a Senior Technician through Renault’s approved training scheme.

“His accreditation underlines Renault’s long and proven track record in delivering high-quality training for its technicians at all levels and as part of Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn’s Renault Commitment 2009, delivering excellent customer service is vital to our business.

“We’re very proud to support the ATA scheme, not only in reassuring the public of the quality of our technicians working on their cars, but also in enabling our technicians to gain another invaluable industry qualification for the future.”

Stuart Brooks, Head of PR and Public Affairs at IMI, said: “We are delighted that since the scheme’s inception in 2005, we have reached the significant milestone of 10,000 ATA accredited technicians.

“There is a huge appetite for hard-working professionals to be universally recognised for their skills and knowledge in an increasingly technical industry and our new ATA consumer campaign will help show motorists how far the automotive industry has progressed. We want them to understand that you know you’re OK with ATA.”

Consumers can search for their nearest garage employing ATA registered technicians by going to www.okwithATA.com