Bristol Academy named UK’s most outstanding automotive training provider
Issue date: 30 June 2011
Against competition from more than two hundred colleges and training providers across the UK that are approved by The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) to deliver automotive related qualifications, Bedminster based S&B Automotive Academy has triumphed to win the IMI’s Outstanding Approved Centre of the Year Award for 2011.
Established for over forty years as a not-for-profit training centre for apprentices, S&B Automotive Academy has been honoured by the IMI for its consistently high performance in training young technicians for a career within the retail automotive, passenger and commercial transport sectors.
The Academy’s pioneering work in the harnessing of web camera technology to create ‘virtual visits’ to employers for school pupils and the assessment of learners over the internet, was also cited as a major reason for its success.
Jon Winter, Chief Executive, S&B Automotive Academy, accepted the IMI’s Outstanding Approved Centre of the Year Award from the Institute’s Patron, HRH Prince Michael of Kent, at the IMI’s headquarters in Hertfordshire. Commented Winter:
“Achieving this prestigious award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of all the team at S&B who share a vision to see our Academy recognised as the leading light for automotive training in the UK. With record breaking numbers of apprentices achieving top marks in their qualifications, we have set a high benchmark for the future. Winning this award makes us even more determined to exceed our performance in the years ahead.”
Alan Mackrill, Managing Director, IMI Awards, who hosted the event, said:
"S & B Automotive Academy has followed through its long term vision from its early roots and has consistently evolved into the award winning organisation it is today. The passion and enthusiasm of all staff within S & B truly make them ambassadors for the automotive industry and we are proud to honour them with this award."
The Academy expects interest in its range of courses to rise this year following the Government’s recent increase in funding for Apprenticeships, as well as the official opening of S&B’s new £1million training facility later this year.
Ends
Jon Winter, Chief Executive, S&B Automotive Academy, receives the glass trophy for ‘Outstanding Approved Centre of the Year’ from HRH Prince Michael of Kent, Patron of the Institute of the Motor Industry.
Figures released by the Academy at the end of 2010 showed an overall success rate of 87% compared with a national benchmark figure of 72%, positioning S&B at the top of the UK rankings for the motor industry. In some areas, including Transport Engineering and Maintenance and Vehicle Parts Operations, the Academy achieved the maximum 100% of all students completing their qualifications successfully.
S&B Automotive Academy is a leading specialist training provider serving the retail motor industry and transport sectors, responsible for training more than 300 Apprentices annually. Established for over 40 years as a not-for-profit organisation, S&B Automotive Academy has achieved the Government’s Training Quality Standard and is an approved centre for the Institute of the Motor Industry and also the IMI’s national Automotive Technician Accreditation (ATA) scheme.
