Several years ago, before the Highways Agency appointment, the IVR made the decision to raise instructor standards but needed to indentify a recognised means of achieving this. The Institute began working with the Independent Training Standards Scheme and Register, which is a body committed to raising and maintaining training standards within the fork lift truck industry. This partnership was then able to produce a recognised standard for instructors, within the recovery industry.
Following the appointment of the IVR as Administrator a modular training scheme, which was favoured by the majority, was put forward as an alternative to the more expensive NVQ scheme.
This was then rolled out industry-wide to create a national scheme, acceptable to the Highways Agency. Over the last five years the IVR has shown its commitment to the role of Administrator by investing hundreds of thousands of pounds to put in place systems and a solid infrastructure to ensure the industry receives the highest level of standards, procedures and service.
A quality management representative and a Level 3 assessor have been appointed to ensure a consistent outcome to all training received and in an ongoing commitment to maintain standards the Institute is continually monitored and audited by an independent consultant and certification body.
Procedures, training and legislation are constantly reviewed to ensure all remains relevant and up to date, proposed changes are then presented to a wide range of interested industry linked parties for approval. Once approved changes are recorded and any modifications to the original proposal are logged. Charges to the industry are laid down by the IVR (UK) Ltd management board and are based on the Administrators running costs. Profit levels are not a major consideration, however any profit accumulated will ultimately benefit the industry.
The training costs are now set by the training providers, where a competitive market exists. The IVR system is probably the most inexpensive body to currently be administering a UK training scheme and costs cannot be reduced where it may result in a lowering of standards and safety.
