Keywords
Citation
(2000), "Motor apprentices take the Euro route", Journal of European Industrial Training, Vol. 24 No. 6. https://doi.org/10.1108/jeit.2000.00324fab.001
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2000, MCB UP Limited
Motor apprentices take the Euro route
Motor apprentices take the Euro routeKeywords Motor industry, Apprenticeships, United Kingdom, Skills, The Netherlands
Seven motor apprentices who work for ARRIVA are the first in the UK motor industry to achieve pan-European recognition for their skills.
The apprentices participated in an international project that aims to provide an industry-recognised benchmark for motor trade skill levels across Europe.
The British apprentices were examined alongside their counterparts at the Dutch Automotive test centre, Innovam in Nieuwegein, The Netherlands and have been awarded their certificates as "Eerste Autotechnicus" or "First Car Technicians". Prior to this, they had completed their NVQ Level III qualification and are currently in their "improver year" set by ARRIVA to aid the transition from training to workplace.
ARRIVA is currently working with motor manufacturers, the Motor Industry Training Council (MITC) and with colleges and industry bodies to develop a Related Vocational Qualification (RVQ) based on industry standards, which assesses emerging levels of competence of trainees and apprentices. A "proposal for change" will be delivered to the Qualifications Curriculum Authority (QCA) in the near future.
Said ARRIVA human resource manager, Mike Selby:
We are extremely grateful to Innovam for their assistance and co-operation with this initiative. We are very impressed with the training and qualification structure in Holland and are convinced that our young industry entrants should obtain the same levels of competence and expertise as their European cousins.
We have already incorporated the European Training Curriculum into our current apprentice programme along with more advanced training features to raise skill levels equal to those in Europe.
He added:
Until such time as the motor industry has a qualification which equates to European levels of expertise, we will continue to send our apprentices to The Netherlands for their qualifications. They deserve a qualification which they feel holds value.