S & B Automotive Academy of Princess Street, Bedminster, Bristol has been awarded a Learning Innovation Grant for the development of an online method of assessing the skills of technicians.
The Skills For Work Training Needs Assessment software has been developed in conjunction with Stagecoach Bus UK, who have ensured the complete electrical system of a bus is replicated in the tests.
Jon Winter, Chief Executive of S & B Automotive Academy, explained: “With so many redundancies and cut-backs in the motor industry it is important for both employers and employees that the right skills are retained.
“The system we have developed enables the knowledge of a technician to be tested so that their training needs can be assessed. This can help people who are under threat of redundancy to gain the skills they need to stay in work.
“It also helps employers to make sure they are retaining the right skills in these tough economic times. This is the fifth innovation grant that we have achieved in four years and it is pleasing to be recognised for new methods of working in this area.”
“Vehicle manufacturers are under pressure to find greener solutions and this means increasingly complex computer systems on large vehicles. Garages are faced with repairing and maintaining these complex systems so there is a real need for well-qualified electrical and electronic technicians.”
The Skills For Work project has specially developed software linked to a bus and coach training panel so that the employer can analyse the technicians ability to fix the electronic systems of a vehicle.
The trainees then get a full assessment of where they need to improve their skills and which training would be relevant for them.
For information on training on offer at S&B Automotive visit the website on http://www.sandbaa.com or call: UK +44117 953 3001.
