VDA apprenticeship standard approved

A new Vehicle Damage Assessor Apprenticeship Standard and End Point Assessment Plan has now been approved for delivery.

The standard has been created by the industry Trailblazer group, which included representatives from all sections of the automotive industry. Designed by employers within the vehicle repair sector this Standard is at level 4 with a duration of up to 36 months.
Working with three leading industry training providers, numbers were crunched to determine how much it would realistically cost to deliver this Standard (including End Point Assessment). The Institute for Apprenticeships allocated a funding band of £9,000 and experts within the sector agreed that this was in line with their thinking.

The Standard and Plan will ensure that VDAs obtain the underpinning knowledge they require to competently assess a vehicle's damage, input data into estimating software and understand how this all comes together to ensure viability of a safe repair.

Employers who have previously relied on examinations without any underpinning training or knowledge transfer have roundly welcomed the programme.

Commenting on the Standard, Robert Dearnaley, managing director of Fix Auto Rochester and Fix Auto Maidstone, said, 'Having a structured, in-depth learning process which takes candidates through the entire spectrum of estimating a vehicle, dealing with customer needs and delivering a quality outcome will be transformational for the whole industry. It was fantastic be part of this forward-thinking group of fellow repairers and industry stakeholders who are committed to make positive changes to our industry.'

Employers have a wide range of options when selecting someone to become a VDA apprentice which gives them flexibility to ensure they find the best fit for their business. Choosing from existing VDA staff, staff in the business not in a VDA role, those with a technical background or those without, the possibilities are endless.

What the apprentice will need to have is a passion and willingness to learn and the commitment to attend their employer's chosen training provider one day a week or one week out of every six, to undertake their 'off the job' training. The remaining 80% of their time, the apprentice will be at work, learning on the job.