Manufacturer main dealers stand to benefit from new funding secured by the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) to improve management and leadership in the retail motor sector.
Nearly £100,000 has been allocated by the UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES) for its’ programme of work aimed at setting a common standard for vehicle retailer management and leadership training. Now in its final year of funding, the programme aims to increase consistency and raise the game for new and existing managers in the motor industry.
A number of major stakeholders linked to the development of the management and leadership project are already mapping their training programmes and receiving a gap analysis against the Automotive Management and Leadership Competency Framework. IMI claims that the introduction of common standards and free programme mapping have been a success and have led to the additional funding investment by UKCES to increase the reach of the project.
Steve Nash, the IMI’s CEO, said, “It’s no secret that compared to other sectors our industry is under qualified, which means we do not always have people in influential positions with the level of qualifications needed to lift an entire business. It is vital for the future success of both individual businesses and the sector as a whole that we directly address the need to improve management and leadership standards by developing a comprehensive and coherent competency standard for the first time. I am pleased to say that we are close to achieving this goal and the additional UKCES funding will give us the opportunity to embed this framework across the sector.”
The IMI is offering free mapping of training programmes to the Automotive Management and Leadership Competency Framework until March 2014 through the funding from UKCES. To find out more about the Management and Leadership Solutions available including IMI Accreditation visit www.ama.theimi.org.uk. You can also search for accredited and qualified individuals on the IMI’s Professional Register at www.imiregister.org.uk.
