AutoRaise opens change floodgates
The inaugural AutoRaise National Repairer Steering Group meeting attracted 30 of the UK’s leading repairers for information sharing and debate about the accident repair industry charity.
The event, which took place at Rob Alley of XL Motors Accident Repair Centre’s Eyebox facility in Coventry, saw Bob Linwood, AutoRaise CEO, discuss the charity’s aims and aspirations. He said, ‘We’ll be the centre for learning, young people and skills in the vehicle repair industry.’ He also made special mention of AutoRaise partners: Audatex, BMS, CAPs, Enterprise-Rent-A-Car, Fix Auto, LV=, Morelli, R-M and Upol and thanked them for their ‘visionary’ support.
Also on the day, Indra Pooran, AutoRaise training coordination manager, provided a neat overview of the apprenticeship funding mechanism – the Appenticeship Levy; Kelly Dalwood, AutoRaise communications, discussed marketing and PR strategies to support AutoRaise Affiliated Repairers; and Tanja Kuveljic from Believe in Young People (BiYP) provided an insight into the grades vs skills and behaviours approach to pro-actively screening and recruiting apprentices.
A partnership between Gemini, BiYP and AutoRaise has, to date, resulted in four work experience placements at the bodyshop group.
‘It was a great meeting full of energy that was very informative on the whole AutoRaise project with its very impressive partners,’ said Paul Smith, managing director, Fix Auto Loughborough. ‘It was a testament to the amount of work done by the whole AutoRaise team that have delivered a tangible and viable training solution for new young staff for the future of our industry.’
Bryan McLauchlan, operations director, KC Autos Accident Repair Centres added, ‘Wow! What a refreshing experience to meet up with very likeminded people all with the same aim – to take the industry forward together.’
AutoRaise plans to continue the positive energy and momentum with further, regularly scheduled meetings to be announced in due course.
