Ford has become the first vehicle manufacturer to have its technical training and assessment process formally aligned to a new national qualification awarded by the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI).

This means that dealer staff who achieve Ford qualifications as part of the Ford Masters training scheme can now also be awarded a national Technical Certificate.

Ford believes that this will be particularly attractive to dealer staff who served their apprenticeships some time ago, as they will now be eligible, having completed Ford's own development and competence assessment programme, to obtain a nationally recognised qualification.

Individuals who receive a Technical Certificate from the IMI at Level 2 (Ford Technician) or Level 3 (Ford Master Technician) will also be entitled to hold Licentiate or Associate grades of IMI membership respectively, as well as special engineering status.

Sarah Sillars, IMI chief executive, says: "We are delighted to be working with Ford on such an important issue. This new initiative is a major milestone for the motor industry and, more specifically, represents a significant opportunity for the skills of technicians to be recognised more widely at a national level."