Section three: UK Insights

The new apprenticeship standards are having a positive impact on skill sets within the UK. This is raising the minimum standard of the new technicians entering the automotive body repair industry.   

The institute for the motor industry (IMI) is the skill sector council for the motor industry in the uk overseeing skills development and addressing gaps within the industry related to vehicle sales, maintenance, and repair. It has a positive impact in raising the profile of the automotive body repair sector, this includes partnering with WorldSkills UK to run the qualifiers and the national competition finals. https://tide.theimi.org.uk/about-imi/imi-skills-competitions   

Access to cutting edge technologies is a clear advantage in the UK as many colleges and body shops have the latest equipment to ensure the safety of modern vehicles.   

Businesses such as independent chains of body shops, training providers and colleges conduct their own in-house competitions strengthening apprentices’ skill sets and enabling them to gain confidence and build resilience to new challenges.   

• time management  and lean working principles
• an open mindedness to try and use different tools techniques
• accuracy, fitness and an awareness of the impact on other arrears within the automotive body shop.  

• employability skills – students need to be confident, affable and able to work towards tight deadlines
• mindset is very important – how do they cope under pressure?  What is their focus and distraction control like? 
• resilience – teaching and delivering a range of techniques so apprentices can adapt to differing scenarios and situations   
• metal work: finishing to an excellent standard rather than just focusing on a competent standard.