The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) has announced the establishment of a new advisory group for the accident repair sector.
In a statement, the IMI said that its Accident Repair Sector Advisory Group, which is set to meet for the first time on October 02, will provide a forum to examine current skills standards in accident repair and how they need to adapt for future automotive technology advances in order to provide motorists, insurers, and bodyshops with confidence in technician competencies.
The advisory group is also expected to provide industry insights that support the IMI’s qualification, accreditation, and professional register to ensure it evolves in line with the needs of the automotive sector, as well as tackling the lack of consistency in skills standards that currently exist because apprenticeship standards are different across the four home nations.
Steve Scofield, head of business development at the IMI, said that the aim of the advisory group is to give motorists a “safer driving experience and provide insurers with the comfort that the repairs will return the vehicle to pre-accident condition – as long as repairs are carried out properly by fully competent technicians.”
“The establishment of Sector Advisory Groups is critical to ensure that the interests of automotive industry professionals, from all sub-sectors, are fully taken into account in the work of the IMI and our ability to influence positive, consistent and timely change for the industry as a whole,” he said. “In this ever-changing industry, we need to stay informed. We are, therefore, constantly looking at ways in which we can ensure industry standards are maintained consistently high in line with current technologies and developments – as well as anticipating future innovation.”
