Monday, April 07, 2008
Skills chief backs IMI to succeed
In a real coup for the motor industry Chris Humphries, chief executive of the new UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES), made the BMW Academy at Wokefield Park the venue for his first employer visit. Ahead of the commission’s official launch, Humphries learned why Ofsted, the schools inspection body, awarded the facility near Reading its highest possible grade for the provision of training and development.
BMW UK invested £17 million in building the academy and it runs a wide variety of technical and management courses for the 150 BMW, Mini and motorcycle dealer-ships around the UK.
UKCES is charged with advising Government on the strategies and policies needed to increase employment, skills and productivity. Humphries said: “The falling birth rate is a big challenge for companies. Competition for young people is going to get tougher and tougher so companies need a good training offer.”
Steve Nash, aftersales director for BMW Group UK, and chairman of the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI), said: “When you offer someone a career rather than just a job they are five times more likely to stay with you.”
DATED: 07.04.08
FEED: AM
BMW UK invested £17 million in building the academy and it runs a wide variety of technical and management courses for the 150 BMW, Mini and motorcycle dealer-ships around the UK.
UKCES is charged with advising Government on the strategies and policies needed to increase employment, skills and productivity. Humphries said: “The falling birth rate is a big challenge for companies. Competition for young people is going to get tougher and tougher so companies need a good training offer.”
Steve Nash, aftersales director for BMW Group UK, and chairman of the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI), said: “When you offer someone a career rather than just a job they are five times more likely to stay with you.”
DATED: 07.04.08
FEED: AM
