Body Repair Industry Trailblazer (BRIT) who formed in September 2020 are proving to be successful in their endeavours of being the industry's voice for apprenticeship standards.
BRIT’s first major task was to lobby IfATE to permit a review of the End Point Assessment (EPA) for the Accident Repair Technician (ART) standard to seek a dispensation that would allow EPA’s to take place for the more than 180 current apprentices on this journey. Following intensive work by members of the trailblazer group Christine Maskill, Chair of Brit commented “We are thrilled to announce that dispensation has been received from IfATE.”
The first trials and tests of the EPA will be carried out at Emtec College in Nottingham the week commencing 17th May, overseen by IMI who have now been approved as an EPA Organisation for the ART standard apprenticeship.
Christine continues, “I am thrilled that the young people, already held up due to COVID, will be able to demonstrate their ability and get their qualification in an organised, appropriate and meaningful way following on from a long period of uncertainty with the end point assessment which was just unworkable. We are now looking at a full review of this standard and so if any Bodyshop employers have feedback, please let me know as soon as possible.”
Mark Armitage, Head of Membership Products and Services at The IMI, said, “Following the hard work carried out by the members of the trailblazer group to secure a dispensation to the assessment approach, we are really pleased to be in a position to test this revision with the first 2 employees from Gemini and the staff at Emtec College. This dispensation ensures Apprentices that have worked really hard for the last few years, will be able to undertake their End Point Assessment and complete their Apprenticeship. It’s great to see these key individuals continue on their chosen career path in the sector.”
Although this dispensation is a huge success for BRIT, having achieved this in a relatively short space of time, their commitment will now ensure other issues such as funding bands and delivery of standards be addressed in the coming months.
For anyone requiring further information on BRIT and its activities, please contact either Christine directly at Christine.Maskill@ncrbodyshops.co.ukor AutoRaise at enquiries@autoraise.co.uk
