Launch of IWA heralds major skills drive in automotive glazing

Nov. 23, 2009 - PRLog -- Offering a unique proposition to the estimated 700 independent businesses in the UK involved in the repair and replacement of vehicle glass, including cars, vans and trucks, IWA’s experienced team of trainers and assessors will provide technical training courses, national qualifications and specialist industry accreditation, as well as information related to new processes, materials and legislation.

In a bid to recruit high calibre individuals into the sector, the Academy has also pioneered a new apprenticeship in automotive glazing in England and Scotland and expects to register more than fifty apprentices in the first year.

The evolution of ‘smart glass’, incorporating solar reflective coatings, rain and light sensors, heated filaments and head-up display systems, has necessitated increasingly higher skill levels. This prompted IWA to become the first independent assessment centre to offer the Automotive Technician Accreditation (ATA) in automotive glazing, which is regulated by the Institute of the Motor Industry.

Speaking at the launch of IWA, Maria Charlton, Director, said:

“Automotive glazing is now a technology in its own right and technicians are now required to have extremely complex skill sets plus an increasingly broad knowledge of how new windscreens work and interact with the rest of the vehicle.”

“IWA is in a privileged position to offer expert training, assessment and knowledge to this market, which has developed so much in the past few years and will continue to do so. We aim to be a champion for skills development and recognition and will work with employers to bring new blood into the industry.”

Commenting on the launch of IWA, Neil Robinson, Glass Industry Lead, Proskills, which is the Sector Skills Council for the glass and related industries, said:

“With a clear and determined mission to provide new opportunities for young people in such an important sector, as well as providing the means of updating skills and achieving recognised accreditation, the IWA has the full support of Proskills. Maria Charlton and her team are extremely driven in their endeavours and we look forward to helping them serve this industry’s needs in the months and years ahead.”

Mick Clayton, Deputy Chief Executive, Glass Qualifications Authority, which is the awarding body for National Vocational Qualifications in Automotive Glazing delivered by IWA, expressed his support:

“Automotive glazing is a highly specialised field and GQA is delighted to approve the Independent Windscreen Academy to offer GQA qualifications. We are confident that IWA will make a significant impact in helping independent organisations to improve business opportunities through the qualification of staff to a nationally recognised level.”

Commenting on IWA’s ambitions to increase the numbers of technicians achieving accreditation, Ian Gillgrass, Workforce Development Manager at the Institute of the Motor Industry, which governs the ATA scheme, said:

“The speed at which vehicle glazing is evolving has shown the importance of technicians demonstrating current competence, underpinned by their commitment to an ethical code of conduct. ATA has generated significant momentum across the industry and the IMI is delighted that the Independent Windscreen Academy is championing the value of accreditation within this specialised market.”

Ends

Notes to Editors:
Based in South Woodham Ferrers, Essex, the Independent Windscreen Academy is owned and managed by Maria Charlton who has worked in the windscreen market for over fifteen years. Maria’s husband, Leon Charlton, runs sister company, Essex Glass and Windscreens, which they founded in 2000. Between them, the companies employ 16 staff.