Case study: Helping to grow knowledge through facilitating MA events

I lead a team of ten tutors and lecturers in the delivery of full time courses and apprenticeships in automotive engineering. I am keen to promote the Industry and to ensure young people do well in their chosen career and welcome the new technology as it comes their way.

How and why are you working with the IMI?

I joined the IMI as a Fellow and quickly moved our awarding organisation from City & Guilds to the IMI. The IMI are the professional body for the Industry and offer a more contemporary route with qualifications. In addition, they are focused on our Industry and campaign for better training, conditions and recognition with Government through initiatives such as TechSafe and Technician Licencing.

As the Key Contact for our area, I facilitate events to local membership and have grown the events to feature the very best speakers and demonstrations as well as trying to involve as many apprentices as possible. My “bring-your-boss-to-college” idea saw a good number of apprentices come along to the IMI MA events, along with their colleagues. We have a theory/lecture followed by a more informal workshop demonstration section where people are free to network and chat. Names associated with our events include Hella, ZF, Schaeffler, Denso, Euro Car Parts, Eminox, National Windscreens, Mann-Hummel Filtration and many more.

A number of manufacturers and suppliers like the format of my events and recently Schaeffler with their RepXpert brand have taken over the idea and launched a national training tour called “Academy Live” which will move around the country in partnership with the IMI; this will benefit a lot of people working in the Industry as well as apprentices.

Since making the move to the IMI, my team have taken on a new professionalism and proudness for the Industry and have “upped” their game supporting the events and highlighting the importance of working in the Industry to our students.

How have the IMI helped?

There are a team of people who make the IMI special and are always on hand to offer encouragement and support as well as regular updates and guidance helping to make my events a success.

The IMI Qualifications that I have worked so hard to attain prove my competence and skill and it’s reassuring to know that they will always be there to support me in my career.

Pete Jackson CAE FIMI