IMI News

IMI launches consultation with commercial vehicle sector

Employers in the commercial vehicle sector are being invited to play their part in developing the standards which will define future qualifications.

A major consultation process has been launched by the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI), the professional association and Sector Skills Council, which is spearheading a comprehensive review of the current National Occupational Standards, on which commercial vehicle maintenance and repair qualifications are based.

In conjunction with a series of expert working groups from across the industry, the IMI is co-ordinating a consultation process until the end of October. The feedback from industry will form the basis of structuring new ‘fit for purpose’ qualifications, which will be introduced in 2009, ensuring that they reflect current job roles and taking into account new technology and business practices.  The standards for this sector were last updated in 2004 and this is now a major opportunity for employers in the commercial vehicle industry to help shape the qualifications they need.

The IMI’s Skills Development team is asking employers to have their say by commenting on the draft standards and proposed qualification structures, specific to Heavy Vehicle Maintenance and Repair, on-line at www.motor.org.uk/nos or by calling the IMI on 01992 511 521 to request the documentation from its Skills Development Team. The draft standards and proposed qualification structures relating to Heavy Vehicle Trailer Maintenance and Repair will be available for industry comment by early November.

Steve Scofield, IMI’s Head of Skills Development, said:
“Our revision of the National Occupational Standards is a critical process for our sector as it will determine how new vocational qualifications will look for the next five years.  It’s vital that we get as many employers as possible to feed in to this consultation so that the IMI can ensure that, once developed, the qualifications are fit for purpose and valued by businesses.”

National Occupational Standards covering the following areas of the automotive retail ‘footprint’ are currently under development:

• Accident Repair (Body, Paint, MET, Welding, Cosmetic)
• Body Building
• Vehicle Inspection, Vehicle Damage Assessors and Insurance Engineers
• Rental and Leasing
• Motorcycle, Light Vehicle Maintenance and Repair
• Heavy Vehicle and HV Trailer Maintenance and Repair
• Lift Truck
• Fast Fit
• Roadside Assistance and Recovery
• Sales
• Parts
• Customer Service
• Ethics
• Auto-electrical and Mobile Electrical Installations
• Motorsports

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