Apprenticeship reforms risk public safety, warns IMI
The Institute of the Motor Industry has warned that proposed apprenticeship reforms could pose a safety risk for both the collision repair aftermarket and the public.
It says the proposals could reduce the robustness of automotive apprenticeship assessments, decrease the depth of training they receive and lead to inconsistent competence across the workforce.
This would pose a risk to technicians working in the aftermarket and motorists, while also undermining employer confidence in the apprenticeship system.
The IMI has now sent an open letter to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Pat McFadden MP highlighting its concerns. The letter has been signed by leading automotive figures and employers including Andy Hamilton, managing director, LKQ, Daksh Gupta, chief executive Officer, Hendy Group, Graeme Potts, chief executive officer, Eden Motor Group, Matt Coates, training and apprenticeships manager, DAF Trucks, and Robert Forrester, chief executive officer, Vertu.
The letter further calls for reform that:
- Maintains rigorous, independent end point assessment
- Protects the depth and quality of training
- Ensures standards reflect the safety-critical nature of much of automotive work
- Ensures employer-led recommendations are consistently respected.
High standards
Nick Connor, CEO of the IMI, said: “As the voice of the automotive workforce, we are compelled to highlight that the current proposals risk compromising the quality, integrity or safety of technical and safety critical occupations within the motor industry.
“This is absolutely the wrong time for the automotive sector for the apprenticeship process to be diluted. As vehicles become more complex, the bar for technician competence must rise, not fall. Any reduction in the rigour of independent end-point assessment will introduce inconsistent competence across the workforce, with direct consequences for the safety of technicians and the public.”
Connor concluded: “Without safeguards in place to protect quality, public safety and employer confidence while also improving responsiveness and flexibility, workforce capability and safety are at risk.
“We are calling on the Secretary of State to listen to employers, protect quality, and get this reform right. We would welcome the opportunity to discuss the issues in greater detail on behalf of automotive employers, with the Secretary of State.”
