IMI panel in call for mandatory TechSafe standards
Industry leaders and the shadow transport secretary Richard Holden were united in a recent call for mandatory TechSafe standards across the UK automotive sector, the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) has reported, following a policy panel session and discussion on workforce safety convened by its CEO Nick Connor.
The panel, which included employers, legal professionals, fleet operators and academic researchers, produced a clear and unified message, according to IMI: as vehicles become increasingly complex technology platforms, government must act to ensure the people maintaining, repairing, diagnosing, and recovering them hold demonstrable, auditable competence for consumer confidence and road safety.
The IMI’s TechSafe standard was identified as the practical mechanism to deliver this, with participants calling on government to mandate its use across the key areas of connected vehicles, automated vehicle technology, electric vehicles, and alternative fuels.
Areas of focus included the critical role of independent garages, specialist repairers and recovery operators, and the value of demonstrable professional recognition for technicians outside of franchised networks. The importance of drivetrain-neutral ‘omnicompetency’ was also raised: supporting a workforce that could operate safely across evolving technologies rather than being siloed by fuel or energy type.
Nick Connor commented: “It is now a question of public safety, consumer confidence, economic growth and industrial readiness that workforce competence is at the heart of automotive-specific regulation.
“IMI TechSafe is already recognised as the practical mechanism to audit workforce competence. It could, therefore, be the right solution to help government, industry and the public manage the risks and opportunities of new vehicle technologies.”
Richard Holden said: “It was great to speak to the IMI, which is doing vital work to shine a torch on this growing regulatory gap.”
Also in May, IMI revealed analysis suggesting a strong talent pipeline for HGV technicians specifically, with apprenticeship starts seeing a 47 per cent rise since 2020/21. The IMI identified that HGV pathways had a higher proportion of over-25s compared to the wider automotive sector, indicating stronger reliance on those with existing experience. A high proportion of the pipeline was driven by Apprenticeship Service Account (ASA) levy funding, it said.
“Our latest analysis shows steady growth in HGV apprenticeship starts after a sharp decline during the pandemic,” said Nick Connor.
“HGV apprenticeship starts are now at the highest level for the last five years.”
He also noted a shift in demand, with bus and coach engineering technician apprenticeships now the fastest growing pathway.
“This is likely to be driven by investment in public transport as well as fleet changes and the transition to zero-emission vehicles for the growing e-commerce marketplace.”
