F&I Management & Training

Motor industry regulatory body, Motor Codes, is to intensify its push to increase the service and repair sector's credibility as it enters a collaborative relationship with the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI).

"Raising service and repair standards in every garage, in every town, in every region of the UK is our number one priority," said Chris Mason, Motor Codes director. "We're proud of having the highest level of support from government, consumer bodies and industry and we want to build on that by working with the IMI to promote the competence and skill of our service and repair technicians."

Motor Codes promotes its 6,200+ subscribing garages through its website (www.motorcodes.co.uk) and drives thousands of customers to garages through the online Garage Finder tool. Garages subscribing to the Code contribute to the continued development of the sector by participating in its self-regulation to raise industry standards.

Launched in 2005 by the IMI, Automotive Technician Accreditation (ATA) is the UK's first and most widely adopted voluntary scheme that proves the current competence of technicians working in the sector. Over 24,000 individuals across the sector have achieved the standard.

Sarah Sillars OBE FIMI, executive chair of the IMI said, "The need for competent, ethical individuals and businesses has never been more crucial to the future success of our industry. The IMI seeks to help employers and those working in the sector generate demonstrable improvements in productivity and performance through a better trained, qualified and recognised workforce not least through our successful ATA scheme. Both ATA and Motor Codes are clearly recognisable signs that provide consumer confidence in our industry and the IMI welcomes this new relationship with Motor Codes."