BRIT, the British Repair Industry Trailblazer group, recently held its first (virtual) meeting to focus on the immediate and short-term challenges that the group is tasked with resolving.
First and foremost, the Accident Repair Technician end point assessment needs to be reviewed urgently as the first cohorts of apprentices reach the gateway for completion of their apprenticeship.
BRIT chair and managing director of NCR Bodyshops, Christine Maskill explained, “It’s a really important piece of work and it needs to be addressed urgently as there are young people who are ready to graduate now and need the assessment in place
“A number of hurdles have presented themselves over the course of the last year or so, but the group are really motivated to find and implement the solution.”
The meeting was joined by Sarah Walker, the groups relationship manager from the Institute for Apprenticeships & Technical Education (IfATE), who has offered her and her colleagues support to the group in this key area. A drafting panel, that includes repairers, training providers and assessment organisations, has been formed with a brief to create a workable assessment that is ready to be delivered by year end.
During the meeting Tom Hudd, technical manager for the NBRA, was elected to be on the directory of professional and employer led bodies. This body and those on it will provide technical and sector specific support to Ofqual who will be responsible for quality assurance of apprenticeship standards and end point assessments.
Tom said, “With NBRA being the only recognised trade body for vehicle repairers and having a deep understanding of the sectors skills agenda and needs I felt it was right to put myself forward for this important role.”
Future initiatives that BRIT will be undertaking include the review of the VDA and MET assessment plans as well as plans to create parity between the English, Northern Irish, Scottish and Welsh governing bodies for apprenticeship programmes to enable a clear apprenticeship delivery and assessment programme for the whole of the industry across the UK.
BRIT, formed by the merger of the two separate industry trailblazer groups – AutoRaise and The Collision Repair Sector Group – are taking responsibility for the ongoing management and development of five apprenticeship standards; Paint Technician, Panel Technician, MET Technician, Automotive Repair Technician (multiskilled) and Vehicle Damage Assessor.
To find out more about BRIT and its work, please contact Jen Evans at AutoRaise.
