Ahead of National Apprenticeship Week (10th-14th February 2025), the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) is calling for urgency over reforms for apprenticeship funding. The professional body believes this is critical to ensure a robust skills pipeline can meet the automotive sector’s future needs, which are integral to the government’s net zero targets.
Ahead of National Apprenticeship Week (10-14 February 2025), the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) is calling for reforms to apprenticeship funding. At the same time, the IMI’s latest data shows that the automotive training workforce continues to be severely under-resourced and the pipeline of new talent is not being adequately filled by new apprenticeships. In the 2023/24 academic year, there were 7,372 automotive apprenticeship starts, 6 per cent lower than in 2022/23.
Garage Hive, the community-driven garage management system, has announced the launch of a new IMI-approved training course for front-of-house service advisors. Delivered at its training centre in Nottingham, the IMI-accredited Garage Hive Service Advisor course equips front-of-house staff with the skills and knowledge to fully leverage Garage Hive’s most advanced tools, enhancing customer service and operational efficiency.
Cheltenham-based independent garage Cleevely Motors will host its first IMI-accredited training course on February 18-19, 2025. The course, held in partnership with Cotswold Diagnostics, is designed to equip vehicle technicians with IMI Level 2 and Level 3 electric vehicle (EV) qualifications.
A group of the aftermarket’s leading suppliers, repairers and trade bodies has co-signed a list of five key policy requests sent by LKQ UK & Ireland to the Secretary of State for Transport. Under the title, ‘Fighting for the Right to Repair’, LKQ UK & Ireland CEO Kevan Wooden set the scene by outlining the […]
The themes of the 2024 Tyre Industry Conference were first outlined by NTDA chief executive Stefan Hay, who framed the current moment for the tyre trade as a time of flux. This period of change is characterised by opportunities to achieve strides forward in areas such as digitalisation, training, roadside safety and sustainability, but also significant threats to the sector, like cyberattacks and the difficulty in recruiting younger people to tyre industry roles. Hay said that the need for highly skilled workers has intensified, due to an ageing workforce, declining interest in engineering jobs, and increased demand for hybrid and remote working from the younger generation. Ultimately, it may be that progression in the evolution of the tyre industry may be realised by embracing perceived threats, Hay suggested.
Garage management system, Garage Hive has announced the official opening of its Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) approved training centre. Located at its new purpose-built site in Nottingham, the investment comes as Garage Hive continues to empower independent garage owners across the UK and Ireland with the systems, skills and knowledge needed to thrive.
Hella has joined the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). It is the latest automotive business to become a member of the 800-strong organisation. Hella said it decided to sign up formally because of its work raising awareness on how new technology is changing vehicles, and the wider industry. The SMMT is one of the largest trade bodies for the UK motor industry, representing the sector’s interests with Government and other regulatory authorities. One its most significant activities is its lobbying on behalf of the automotive industry.
Valeo Service UK’s recent IMI-member event which celebrated two decades since it first pioneered stop-start technology has been declared a resounding success. Held at the Valeo Service UK IMI-approved training centre in March, the evening event attracted a diverse array of attendees from across the automotive industry, including mechanics, garage owners, college tutors and OEM dealers, underscoring the widespread enthusiasm for advancements in automotive innovation.
Garage Hive has moved to a new purpose-built site in Nottingham. The relocation comes as Garage Hive outgrew its previous offices and sought a larger space to accommodate its expanding team and enhance its services.
According to new analysis from the automotive industry’s professional body, the IMI, the first quarter of the current academic year saw a significant milestone in automotive apprenticeships. With the highest number of new enrolments since before the Covid-19 pandemic, starts have seen a 9 per cent rise compared to the 2022-23 academic year. “This uplift indicates a renewed interest in both the automotive sector generally and apprenticeships as an entry route, both of which are critical to build the talent pipeline for the future”, explained Emma Carrigy, Research Manager at the IMI.
Hella has announced the launch of its Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) approved training facility, Hella Academy in Chipping Warden, Banbury. Initially opening with two IMI accredited Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) courses, the brand-new training centre is equipped with a modern classroom and state-of-the-art workshop to blend key theoretical learning with hands-on training. Hella Academy’s ADAS IMI AOM 230 course provides technicians with the insurance approval needed to work on ADAS-equipped vehicles while its ADAS L2 Award covers calibration, vehicle alignment, workshop requirements and more. Both two-day courses are available to book now.
Pro-Align is working with the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) to introduce an advanced training course tailored to the BS 10125 standard. The course is designed to ensure that automotive bodyshops and accident repair centres meet the criteria for Section C.10 – Steering, Suspension, and Braking Systems.
Garage and diagnostics equipment supplier Repairify has addressed the current chasm between the approximately 3,500 ADAS-qualified technicians in the UK and the 21,500 required to meet market demand for these services. The company says it can help businesses meet the dramatic increase in demand, set to continue as growth in ADAS-equipped vehicles rises, via the support of its own team of IMI-qualified technicians and the development of technology to support maintenance work on these cars. Phil Peace, managing director (SVP) international at Repairify Inc, told Tyres & Accessories that AI and machine learning has enabled the company to enhance its data to support its solutions that puts critical repair information into garage workflow.
Electric vehicles dominated discussions about future mobility in 2023, but the latest data from the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) suggests that a more urgent issue has been neglected in the rush to promote EVs. The latest IMI TechSafe Technician Forecasts data identifies what the institute calls a “dangerous shortfall” in technicians able to work safely and competently on vehicles equipped with Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), with approximately 18,000 extra ADAS-qualified technicians required to meet demand.
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