”The opening of the ReMIT Centre for Technical Excellence represents a fundamental shift in the way the retail motor sector approaches the training of its staff,” commented Fred Maguire, president of the Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMI), at the opening of ReMIT's new training centre today.

The £2m Croydon-based centre, officially opened today (Tuesday 28 October 2003) by HRH Prince Michael of Kent, is a training facility for light vehicle technicians and electricians. It is the first to be wholly owned and operated by ReMIT, the training arm of the RMI.

700 learners will be under training at the centre at any one time. Manufacturers that will also be using the facilities include Daimler-Chrysler, Ford, Volkswagen and Ferrari/Maserati

Maguire continues: “Aside from being a huge investment for ReMIT and the RMI, it is an important development for our industry, one that gives us the ability to directly manage the progress of the young people we have under our auspices. Direct influence over the training of those we recruit into our industry will enable us to tackle skills shortages more effectively,” observed Maguire.