NEWS

Suzuki grads celebrate

34 YOUNG apprentices are celebrating after graduating from Suzuki’s very own apprenticeship qualification. In a Graduation ceremony held recently at The National Heritage Motor Museum, Suzuki proudly presented 34 young apprentices with their Graduation certificates. The event marks the culmination of three years’ hard work (two years for parts apprentices) studying on their block release [...]

	Young techs represent UK
SIX young automotive technicians have been selected to represent the UK at the 2011 WorldSkills competition. Five of them are coming via the SkillAuto competition route. Alex Knight, 19, from Gatwick Honda and John Couldridge, 21, from Inchcape Honda in Romford will both compete in the AutoTechnology category. Ben Eaton, 21, from Sytner BMW Sheffield, [...]

	Women overcome bias
WOMEN from various sectors outside the bodyshop arena have been given a crash course in paint spraying. The event, run by Southgate College and the IMI, was aimed at showing women employment opportunities they may not have considered. It is an attempt to overcome the gender bias in the car industry, where men almost universally [...]

	Codes joins with IMI
MOTOR Codes is now collaborating with the IMI in a move to further drive up the credibility of aftersales. The two bodies aim to work together and maximise the advantage of strong support from the Government. Work will now commence on combining the benefits of the Motor Codes standards with the IMI’s Automotive Technician Accreditation [...]

	ATA hits 20k mark
IMI officials have announced the 20,000th ATA accredited vehicle technician has been appointed after 5 years’ operation. This is helping the car repair industry overcome a lack of consumer confidence in it. Bromley Kwik-Fit’s Doug Creed is the technician who’s hit the landmark figure, but is just 1 of 10 technicians who earn accreditation each [...]

		HRH praises auto skills
		HRH Prince Michael of Kent was among guests celebrating IMI Skillsmiles awards winners at a London event. The Institute’s annual dinner saw 6 prizes handed out for the Skillmiles skills development training scheme. Awards were presented by Sarah Sillars OBE, who said ‘congratulations go to all those organizations and individuals who have won awards. ‘To [...]
		Read More..

		IMI renewed approval
		GOVERNMENT officials have renewed the IMI’s prestigious licence as Sector Skills Council for car dealers. All 25 SSCs have been through the independent relicensing process, conducted by the National Audit Office. Passing the audit means the IMI retains its official seal of approval, after a successful 2 years as car dealer training experts. SMMT chief [...]
		Read More..

		ATA dealer landmark
		ALFA Romeo car dealer technician Sean Davidson has become the 15,000th ATA-approved technician. The Palmers Hemel Hempsted man won £200 and a bottle of champagne for his achievement – along with his prized ATA membership card. The IMI governs the ATA scheme, which was launched at the British Motor Show last year. Its communications head, [...]
		Read More..