The Institute of Road Transport Engineers/SOE has teamed up with the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) in a move that will see the current irtec HGV technician certification scheme gain greater momentum within the road transport industry. Under the agreement with the IMI, the government-recognised Sector Skills Council for the automotive industry, truck operators and workshops looking to put technicians and fitters through the irtec scheme are also likely to gain greater access to funding.
While IRTE will remain ultimately responsible for irtec standards, and particularly testing, the IMI will help administer the HGV technician certification process, as it already does of its own Automotive Technician Accreditation scheme. As part of the process, IRTE also wants to ensure greater clarity among those companies and truck manufacturers that already provide vehicle technician training as to which of their third-party courses will fall within the scope of the irtec syllabus. IRTE chief executive Nick Jones insists that the value of the irtec scheme is that "it's a competence test, whereas an NVQ is an evidence-gathering process". Jones also defends the fact that, unlike other qualifications, an irtec licence requires recertification after a period of time (typically three to five years), "because technology is always changing".
IRTE council member and former DHL Exel Supply Chain engineering director John Parry is keen to see the irtec scheme extended further
to subcontractors. "We've already talked to the Traffic Commissioners about this. We need proof of the level of competence of subcontractors." Parry adds that the irtec scheme "allows us to examine the performance of members if need be we could withdraw accreditation. It also gives the IRTE a suite of training courses at a higher level." CM will be looking at the developments with the irtec scheme in a forthcoming issue.
Reed Business Information Limited.©2008
