A different experience for dealers is the what SsangYong is offering. Richard Yarrow discovers more about the company's ambitions for 2012.

The DAF apprentices in the group image are proudly displaying the new personal protective equipment (PPE) as they getting acquainted to their training vehicles at the City of Bristol College.

Few bodyshops think about what will happen when they want to, or are forced to, exit the business. Without planning you are unlikely to get the best price for your bodyshop or achieve the best tax outcome to enjoy your retirement.

Sales of smaller "commuter scoots" are rising nicely to defy the economic gravity that has pulled down motorbike sales overall and devastated certain motorbike sectors

A project to restore a 1961 dragster is set to bring together a group of experienced enthusiasts with the next generation of automotive technicians.

Following the recent announcement that the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) had successfully secured over £3 million of investment on behalf of the automotive retail sector as part of phase 2 of the Government's Employer Investment Fund (EIF), the IMI has today announced that it will be re-organising its business to deliver core activities such as the continuing development of membership services and the new programme of work set out as part of its contractual obligations to the UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES). 14 new job roles have been created within the IMI which includes a new department to support the forthcoming program of work centered on the vital area of Return on Investment (ROI)

With the New Year ahead the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) is determined to make 2012 count for you and your business.

The IMI's  return on investment (ROI) studies issued last year showed that training drives business and the companies who invested enjoyed increased ROI ranging from 98%-187%

Outstanding automotive technicians who wish to showcase their skills can now put themselves to the test by entering the 2012 SkillAuto competition which is now open.

If you have no more than 3 years experience including training and a desire to be the best in your industry, you can enter online now

Looking back over 2011 the Institute of the Motor Industry has had a productive and successful year on behalf of its members and the automotive retail industry.

National Apprenticeship Week in early February saw the IMI championing the role of apprentices within the automotive retail sector

The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) is delighted to be able to announce that following a rigorous commissioning process, they have been confirmed by the UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES) as the provider to deliver Universal Services for the automotive retail sector.  Universal Services cover the key products of National Occupational Standards, Apprenticeships and Modern Apprenticeship frameworks and qualification related products

Over half the workforce in the retail motor industry is employed by a small/medium business yet according to the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI), 32% of micro-businesses carried out no staff training at all last year. With 1545 SMEs closing in the same period the IMI is calling on employers to take action and understand that investing in skills is good for business and has a positive effect on the bottom line

A new assessment for those working in cosmetic repair has today been added to the Automotive Technician Accreditation (ATA) scheme. Cosmetic or SMART repairs have been developed to offer a fast and cost effective way of repairing vehicle damage

Why do otherwise sensible folk strap themselves into insanely fast machines, aim for the horizon and then press the "fast" button? Vaughan Freeman looks at the teams striving to rewrite the record books.

To support land speed record attempts, even usually shrewd and cautious firms are happy it seems to pour resources into these high-risk attempts. Record-breaking is big business.

Land speed record holder Richard Noble opens new BLOODHOUND Education Centre and Academy's £1 million training facility.

Staying in British hands and keeping business bouyant, Morgan is bucking trends on more than one front. James Foxall reports on this traditional company's thoroughly modern plans. It's easy to poke fun at Morgan. Its products for the most part look as if Bertie Wooster should be at the wheel.

Much has changed in the world of engine oils over the last 50 years. Mobil 1's Danny McGoldrick examines how advanced synthetic engine oils are supporting the evolution of vehicle performance.

The recent announcement of record increases in the prices of rail season tickets is being linked to the current boom in scooter sales. Registrations of jumped by 29.8% in August, as half a million rail passengers faced the prospect of the biggest leap in ticket costs sinceprivatisation in 1995.

The Institute for the Motor Industry (IMI) has successfully secured over £3 million of investment on behalf of the automotive retail sector, as part of phase 2 of the Government's Employer Investment Fund (EIF), to deliver projects to boost enterprise, jobs and growth. Following a competitive bid process, the IMI has secured investment for all 6 streams of work submitted for consideration by the UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES)

This week sees the launch of the Headlight competition designed to encourage 13-16 year olds into the automotive world by showing them first hand what exciting roles they could take on.

The Headlight initiative was developed by the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) along side the National Schools Partnership (NSP)

At the recent SMTA Annual Dinner held in Glasgow on 3 November, one of the highlights was the IMI Skillmiles Alba Awards celebrating the Scottish automotive retail industry. The final award of the evening was the Special Achievement award that went to Ryan McKie and Lee McManus, both of whom took a good opportunity and turned it into a great career