Auto Windscreens offers new qualification
Article Type:
Notes and news
From:
Industrial and Commercial Training, Volume 45, Issue 6
Auto Windscreens has become the first windscreen-replacement company in the UK to offer a new GQA level 3 award for continued competence in automotive glazing.
The qualification is aimed at experienced technicians who have achieved their automotive-glazing NVQ level 2 and 3 certifications within the last three years. It looks to confirm and increase technicians knowledge of industry regulations, health and safety and technical advances as automotive-glazing technology becomes increasingly complex.
The award was developed by GQA, the training body for automotive glazing, in line with BSIs PAS 125 specifications, which require people working with major insurance companies or PAS 125-approved body-shops to have a qualification attained within a three-year timescale.
Auto Windscreens operates a GQA-approved specialist training center at its Chesterfield headquarters in Derbyshire. Its innovation and training manager, Chris Bonsall, has been involved with the GQA since NQVs were first formed in the early-1990s. He said: “The automotive-glazing industry is becoming more regulated and the technology is more advanced so we need to make sure our technicians are kept up-to-date with developments and have the technical expertise our customers expect.
“The new continued-competence qualification provides a much-needed refresher course that will ensure we can continue to work successfully with the insurance and vehicle-repair industries.
GQA chief executive officer Mick Clayton added: “Chris has been highly active in identifying the need for this new qualification as Auto Windscreens technicians need to meet PAS 125 requirements. It is great to see the first technicians in the industry taking this qualification at the company.
