Are you ready for the change?

The world is coming together to try and help the environment at the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow. It’s an enormous event and one that will have a huge impact on everything we do. 

When the latest issue of MotorPro magazine lands on your doormat you’ll be able to find out more about how it’ll impact all our lives; from electrifying vehicles to making businesses more environmentally sustainable.

We’re dedicated to adapting to this new world so we’ve expanded our board to bring fresh insight and perspectives into what we do.

Ian Plummer, Commercial Director of the Auto Trader Group plc, and Chris Mason, CEO of FISITA, the international membership organisation join as Non-Executive Directors. Both bring a wealth of knowledge that’ll help the IMI and you prepare for a period of unprecedented change, and face both the challenges and exciting opportunities.

And the change is coming fast. Last week’s budget announced a £3.8bn investment in training which is good news for the UK as a whole and an additional £2.7 billion for apprenticeships up to 2025. Now we need to work out the nitty-gritty so it’s spent where it’s needed.

There needs to be an acceleration in the updating of apprenticeship models to reflect the new innovations in automotive, which currently relies very heavily on employer input. Those employer panels would certainly benefit from some additional resources to support their important work. Without this, the government’s own ambitions in decarbonisation could be seriously undermined and all the promises made at COP26 unfulfilled.

It’s an exciting time to work in automotive and you’re bound to have questions, so get in touch and we’ll find the answers for you. Call +44 (0)1992 519025, or send an email to hello@theimi.org.uk. 
   
With my very best wishes
 
Steve

PS
An important date for your diary; the IMI Dinner will be held on the 17th March 2022 and table sales have now opened.