The Independent Garage Association (IGA) MOT Tester training courses are now more widely available to aftersales providers thanks to a development of the scheme delivered in partnership with Progress Recruitment Solutions.

The training solutions developed by Progress Recruitment with the IGA have been extended so that individuals who are not members of the IGA can now gain access and undertake the courses, while an innovative range of funding options have also been introduced.

From July the range of training courses and assessments, each lasting up to three days, have been available at both of the RMI Academy of Automotive Skills state of the art training facilities at Southam in Warwickshire and Runcorn in Cheshire.

Progress Recruitment’s director, Laura Rycroft, said: “It’s equally important individuals themselves take responsibility for improving their capabilities too in what is a rapidly evolving market.”

Individuals are being encouraged to self-fund their own training through a range of incentives that include subsidised rates and flexible payment options - with up to 12 month’s interest-free finance.

“We know for certain that undertaking automotive skills training is one of the quickest routes towards improving career prospects,” said Rycroft.

“There’s a return on investment as the rewards can be realised either through becoming more valuable to the existing employer or by being better qualified for a future role.”

IGA’s chief executive, Stuart James, said: “With the national shortage of MOT testers, and the proposed changes to add individual testers to a garage’s risk score, this future-proofing initiative will prove invaluable to the efficient running of an MOT test station.

"This is one of many initiatives the IGA is working on to bring new testers into the sector, so MOT stations can continue to provide the high quality of service their customers have become used to.”