Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) has begun the process to renew its licence from the Government to operate as a Sector Skills Council for another five years.

For renewal, the IMI has to demonstrate the engagement, confidence and support of businesses in the retail motor industry.
Relicensing assessments are carried out by the National Audit Office as well as employers, before the UK Commission for Employment and Skills makes its recommendations to ministers in July next year.

Employers can give their feedback on IMI’s performance by the end of January 2009 at www.ukces.org.uk.

• The IMI has announced that Linda Stansfield will join as its chief operating officer on February 23 from AGA Performance where she is account director for Ford at Henry Ford College.

n Lee Pearce, of Currie Motors Barnet, has become the 11,000th person to gain Automotive Technician Accreditation status.