Steve Nash, CEO of the Institute of the Motor Industry, has confirmed that the professional body is very much ‘open for business’ to support the motor retail sector during the Coronavirus pandemic.
He commented: “Whilst we all must heed the government guidance in terms of social distancing, the mobility of individuals and the businesses that serve our communities will be vital during the next few months. And that means that vehicles, whether personal or business, must be maintained to safe standards and that the focus has to remain on training the next generation of automotive professionals.
“The news on Wednesday evening that schools will close from this Friday and Further Education colleges are expected to follow suit is, of course, a concern in terms of the education of the next generation. The IMI has a team of experts available to provide remote assistance for FE colleges who will want to continue to support their students pursuing motor sector related qualifications.
“It’s also vital that MOT testing remains in place to ensure that the vehicles used by individuals and businesses are roadworthy. The fact that our MOT Tester and Annual Assessment and CPD can be completed online will help to ensure that the DVSA standards for MOT testing are maintained. We also have remote assessment tools for a number of vehicle servicing and repair qualifications and we are reviewing the option to extend some accreditation periods to ensure that motor industry professionals who can’t get to physical centres in the next few months do not lose their accreditations.”
The IMI has dedicated Business Development, Quality and Product teams that are available via remote engagement, helping its partners to continue to deliver to their learners and members. IMI members, Further Education establishments and motor retailers that rely on the IMI to help them maintain professional standards across all aspects of their business, can access a range of information from the professional body’s website, with a new website scheduled for launch next month.
