The UK's 3,500 Motability dealers are being urged to book early to train for a new course that will become a standard requirement for the scheme, which represents the UK's biggest fleet.

The Motability Aftersales Accreditation is designed to ensure high customer relationship management and aftersales service standards.

One day training courses will be offered through Network Automotive and Motability Operations, as well as a small number of other accredited independent training companies. Dealers can look at course availability and book online at www.networkauto.co.uk.

David Shaw, training and development manager at Network Automotive, says: "Motability represents an important and growing income stream for many dealers and it will be necessary for them to hold this additional accreditation.”

Dealer staff are required to complete the course by the end of 2006. Motability dealers classed as partners must have one accredited employee, while dealers who are premier partners need at least two.

Shaw says: "We believe that there will be a tendency among some dealers to delay their accreditation but we would strongly urge them to book early.

"Inevitably there will be a rush towards the end of 2006 for training places. Some will leave it too late which could endanger their fleet payments.”

"Motability sales make up around 6% of the new car market and the fleet size is forecast to grow to 450,000 vehicles, an increase of 12.5%, in less than two years. This represents a major business opportunity," says Shaw.