The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) has begun working with Scottish Motor Trade Association (SMTA) to offer workshop training.

This new skills partnership will give businesses an opportunity to upskill their staff in a time-effective manner and help them battle against the growing pressure created by new technology.

With a limited number of people beginning a career in the sector, this agreement between England and Scotland will also give SMTA’s members the opportunity to join the IMI at a preferential rate, which includes providing them with valuable access to the IMI’s eLearning training programme.  

SMTA’s chief executive Sandy Burgess (pictured) said: “We’ve recently finished the first year of the IMI’s MoT annual assessment where we had predicted to see around 500 individuals entering onto the programme, but this exceeded our expectations where we ended up seeing around 2,500.

“This told me there was an energy and enthusiasm for a virtual format of learning so we have taken that, and with my background with being a Fellow of the IMI, I was very keen to build up the professionalism of the individuals.

“With this being the main focus SMTA and the IMI have come together to allow SMTA members unique access to a membership level, plus 12 months access to the virtual learning environment.”

IMI’s chief executive Steve Nash said: “We’re delighted to be working with SMTA and they do an amazing job of representing the interests of their members north of the boarder.

“Part of that is promoting those that are best to do business with and that works on a business level and an individual level too.

“The IMI will continue to work alongside the SMTA to add that stamp of approval for those individuals who want to show their professional status and their professional skills.”