New VDA apprenticeship standard approved
A new Vehicle Damage Assessor Apprenticeship Standard and End Point Assessment Plan has now been approved for delivery.
The standard
has been created by the industry Trailblazer group, which included
representatives from all sections of the automotive industry.
Designed by employers
within the vehicle repair sector this Standard is at level 4 with a duration of
up to 36 months and details can be found here:
https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/apprenticeship-standards/vehicle-damage-assessor/
Working with three leading industry training providers, numbers were crunched
to determine how much it would realistically cost to deliver this Standard
(including End Point Assessment). The Institute for Apprenticeships
allocated a funding band of £9,000 and experts within the sector agreed that
this was in line with their thinking.
The Standard and Plan will ensure that VDAs obtain the underpinning knowledge
they require to competently assess a vehicle’s damage, input data into
estimating software and understand how this all comes together to ensure
viability of a safe repair.
Employers who have previously relied on examinations without any underpinning
training or knowledge transfer have roundly welcomed the programme.
Commenting on the Standard, Robert Dearnaley, managing director of Fix Auto
Rochester and Fix Auto Maidstone, said, ‘Having a structured, in-depth learning
process which takes candidates through the entire spectrum of estimating a
vehicle, dealing with customer needs and delivering a quality outcome will be
transformational for the whole industry. It was fantastic be part of this
forward-thinking group of fellow repairers and industry stakeholders who are
committed to make positive changes to our industry.’
Employers have a wide range of options when selecting someone to become a VDA
apprentice which gives them flexibility to ensure they find the best fit for
their business. Choosing from existing VDA staff, staff in the business
not in a VDA role, those with a technical background or those without…. the
possibilities are endless.
What the apprentice will need to have is a passion and willingness to learn and
the commitment to attend their employer’s chosen training provider one day a
week or one week out of every six, to undertake their ‘off the job’
training. The remaining 80% of their time, the apprentice will be at work,
learning on the job.
Those instrumental in supporting the development of this apprenticeship
programme included Chris Oliver, trailblazer lead; Andy Moore, Emtec; Andy
Walters, Rainbow Bodyshops; Ben Cardy, AIC; Ben Martin, PSA Training; Bill
Duffy, Rye Street Group; Carl Flint, GB Flint/Fix Auto Nottingham; Dave
Sargeant, Gemini; Dawn Mullins, Aylesbury Panelcraft; Earle Avann, Rainbow
Bodyshops; James Dunn, AW Repair Centres; Louise Woolacott, Fix Auto Mid Devon;
Mark Connolly, The Vella Group; Paul Smith, Fix Auto Loughborough; Phil Travis,
Morelli; Peter Randhawa, Steer Automotive Group; Richard Harrington, Fix Auto
Stevenage; Richard Taylor, GT Motive; Richard Tutt, Motofix; Rob Oldale, Blackpool
and the Fylde College; Robert Dearnaley, Fix Auto Rochester and Maidstone; Steve
Harris, Fleetline/Fix Auto Croydon; Scott Dunnell, Fix Auto Dagenham; and Stuart
Perry, Automotive Training Solutions.
