A lot of accusations have been levelled at the IVR in recent years, almost all surrounding the modular training scheme, or as described incorrectlyby some in the industry, ‘the Highways Agency modules’, but what does this scheme really give the industry? Primarily, it gives us a common training standard linked directly to the ‘National Occupational Standards’ in Rescue and recovery.
A common standard provides the industry with several benefits, they include; Added protection in the event of a catastrophic event, a well trained and professional workforce, arguably the most important and the ability to comply with contractual obligations, these are all an added bonus in these times of recession. If you agree with Gordon Brown, then you are investing your way out of this recession by choosing this scheme. It is interesting to note that other sectors of the motor industry recognise this standard and have adopted the core modules for their basic training of their roadside technicians, this includes bus companies, tyre organisations and commercial vehicle manufacturers and dealers.
The fact is that the IVR’s belief in a National Training Scheme with a common standard was so compelling it invested in excess of £100,000.00 in its infrastructure to, not only comply with the HA requirements for the administrators role, but to be able to manage a truly national scheme. There will be those that say it was only for the HA, but they were just the catalyst for a dramatic change in our sector and the way in which it trains its people and this should be embraced. However, by being accepted as the administrator for the HA scheme we have kept training and investment within our industry, giving the IVR through IVR (UK) Ltd the ability to control costs in the industry’s favour, had this role gone outside the industry, it would have needed very deep pockets indeed!
As a side note, IVR has recently been praised for the progress made with the NHSS 17 training requirements, by the HA, stating that our sector has achieved more in the timescale than any other industry.
For those employers that snipe at a National Training Scheme and say it isn’t needed, I would respectfully suggest they get their employees views; perhaps they would like to be trained professionally? Perhaps they want more than just a job, perhaps they want a career and this training scheme is the start of that. We are not the fast food chain of the motor industry, paying people the minimum wage; we are a truly professional part of the motor vehicle sector. In any event, they should ask themselves, is it moral to expect employees to risk their lives for them without being given the correct and professional training to do their job? We all know it is a dangerous job and if one life is saved because the person was professionally trained then we have achieved our goal.
Right at the start we said we need feedback and none so more than on this training scheme, so employers, it is vital that if you invest in the ‘National Training Scheme’ you raise any issues you may have with IVR (UK) Ltd, regarding the content, time or the training provider, we carry out our own surveys on training courses held but we need as much feedback as possible to continually improve the system. It is no different to any other purchase, we need value for money, but that does not mean cheap or unrecognised training, it means training that meets all the national standards by a competent instructor. Purchasing a training course that is shortened to reduce costs is not value for money. Likewise, training staff internally may also not be value for money, teaching and coaching is a skill that not everyone is blessed with. However, if your query is regarding the cost of the training course then this will need to be raised directly with the training provider.
So, do we invest our way out of this recession? This could be the best time to invest in training, whilst it is easier to release staff and when we do emerge from the recession we will be well prepared for the upsurge in work, with a better skilled and professional workforce. It seems we are happy to invest in hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of recovery equipment, but not in the most important resource that we have, that of pour staff. But think of this, a catastrophic event occurs tomorrow and you are in a corporate manslaughter situation, the judge will not accept the recession as a reason for not complying with the law and training your staff! Are we scare mongering? No, we are trying to protect the companies and its employees in our industry; it is what the IVR/IVR (UK) Ltd is about.
In the next few issues we intend to have a closer look at the modules, explaining their purpose, basic content and why modules? Next issue will feature the ‘Core Modules’ arguably the most important.
Terry Crampton
Training, Assessment and Quality Management Representative
IVR (UK) Ltd
On behalf of The Institute of Vehicle Recovery
26/8/09
