IMI News

Industry credibility at core of new relationship

Motor industry regulatory body, Motor Codes, is to intensify its push to increase the service and repair sector's credibility as it enters a collaborative relationship with the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI).

"Raising service and repair standards in every garage, in every town, in every region of the UK is our number one priority," said Chris Mason, Motor Codes director.  "We're proud of having the highest level of support from government, consumer bodies and industry and we want to build on that by working with the IMI to promote the competence and skill of our service and repair technicians."

Motor Codes promotes its 6,200+ subscribing garages through its website (www.motorcodes.co.uk) and drives thousands of customers to garages through the online Garage Finder tool.  Garages subscribing to the Code contribute to the continued development of the sector by participating in its self-regulation to raise industry standards.

Launched in 2005 by the IMI, Automotive Technician Accreditation (ATA) is the UK's first and most widely adopted voluntary scheme that proves the current competence of technicians working in the sector. Over 24,000 individuals across the sector have achieved the standard.

Sarah Sillars OBE FIMI, executive chair of the IMI said, "The need for competent, ethical individuals and businesses has never been more crucial to the future success of our industry.  The IMI seeks to help employers and those working in the sector generate demonstrable improvements in productivity and performance through a better trained, qualified and recognised workforce not least through our successful ATA scheme.  Both ATA and Motor Codes are clearly recognisable signs that provide consumer confidence in our industry and the IMI welcomes this new relationship with Motor Codes."

Garages can subscribe to the Service and Repair Code for just £75 by visiting www.motorcodes.co.uk or calling 0800 692 0825.  For information about ATA or for the nearest assessment centre, visit www.automotivetechnician.org.uk or call 01992 511521.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

About Motor Codes:
The Motor Industry Code of Practice for Service and Repair helps motorists to identify responsible garages, offers a structured complaints procedure and promotes good customer service at its subscribing garages.  More than 6,200 garages in the UK subscribe to the Code which has completed the first stage of Office of Fair Trading (OFT) code approval and is currently progressing through the further stages of its Consumer Codes Approval Scheme.
 
Developed and launched in 2008 as a response to consumer concerns over pricing, quality of work and customer service, the Code commits subscribing garages to:
Honest and fair services; Open and transparent pricing; Completing work as agreed; Invoices that match quoted prices; Competent and conscientious staff; A straightforward, swift complaints procedure.

And offers motorists:
A free consumer advice line (0800 692 0825); An online search facility allowing consumers to locate their nearest subscribing garage; Free conciliation; Low cost, legally binding arbitration

Further Motor Codes information is available at www.motorcodes.co.uk

About The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI)
The IMI is the professional association for individuals working in the motor industry and the Sector Skills Council for the automotive retail sector. It is also the governing body for the Automotive Technician Accreditation (ATA) scheme, which has over 24,000 accredited technicians and the Automotive Management Accreditation (AMA) scheme.
For further information visit:
www.motor.org.uk
www.automotivetechnician.org.uk
www.okwithata.com
www.automotivemanagement.org.uk

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Motor Codes media contact:
Jon Visscher - media manager, t: 020 7344 9263; m: 07816 906794, e: jvisscher@motorcodes.co.uk

IMI media contact:
Simon Bennett - PR executive, t: 01992 511521; m: 07876 251980; e: simonb@motor.org.uk