An industry consortium is piloting a scheme which allows vehicle technicians to work on written-off vehicles during their college training.

Now in its second year, the scheme is helping the further education sector with the challenges of funding in facilities, products and vehicles.

Ten colleges are part of an industry consortium which includes Snap-on Diagnostics, Bluecycle and the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI), which set up the three year pilot scheme.

The programme includes the provision of vehicles, diagnostic equipment, access to technical data and support training for lecturers.

Bluecycle, an online marketplace for accident damaged vehicles, is providing each centre with a car of less than five years old, used for training purposes only, which are replaced every six months.

By supporting this initiative Bluecycle and Snap-on are both gaining industry recognition by earning SkillMiles points.

The SkillMiles scheme, launched in February by the IMI, is a way of recognising employer support in the campaign to raise skill levels within the automotive sector.

The 10 ‘pathfinder’ centres involved in the initiative are:

Brooksby Melton College
Grimsby Institute
Highbury College, Portsmouth
Newcastle College
Peterborough College
S&B Training, Bristol
Stockport College
Suffolk College
Training 2000, Blackburn
West Cheshire College