The IMI says automotive businesses must invest in new skills or risk failure.
In the run up to the public launch of its Professional Register in April, the IMI says the motor trade faces a “perfect storm” for failure in the next three years. A lack of management skills, little customer service skills and a rise in vehicle technology are all contributing.
Backed by Government, the IMI’s Professional Reguster aims to have 50,000 registered technicians by 2013. All ATA accredited technicians will automatically be added to the register when it goes live.
New IMI CEO Steve Nash said: “There’s no question that our industry needs to up-skill. Managers, especially those in small businesses, typically do not possess the formal training in areas such as sales, customer service and financial planning, to survive and prosper. In an industry that suffers from poor public perception, having well skilled staff can make the difference between the life and death of a business.
“Businesses need to recognise the importance of training their people and invest in it. Too often training is simply seen as a cost and is the first thing to be cut when times are hard. The fact is that well trained people will sustain a business and bring the good times earlier. This is even more important for small businesses where having a wider skill set is vital in running the enterprise.”
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