AIM for Excellence Endorsements

AIM Commercial Services is among the first Driver CPC (Certificate of Professional Competence) training providers to be endorsed as a ‘Skills for Logistics Standard of Excellence Driver CPC training provider’.

Skills for Logistics’ Standard of Excellence Driver CPC has been introduced in response to a need voiced by employers and providers to showcase excellent training provision.

The Standard’s aim is to recognise and celebrate providers who consistently deliver high quality training and provide a mechanism to help employers locate and access this excellent training provision. It has been developed by Skills for Logistics following extensive consultation with key logistics employers. They identified five key metrics based on high quality training and business benefit: trainer quality; course preparation and delivery; learning resources and environment; pre-and post-training delivery and a commitment to excellence.

Based in Ripley, Derbyshire, AIM offers a range of services in addition to Driver CPC training including tachograph analysis, digital tachograph training, compliance systems and procurement audits and dangerous goods safety advice.

Allison Kemp, Managing Director of AIM and a third generation Class One driver, started the business just over 10 years ago when she was first asked to analyse tachographs. When Driver CPC was introduced, many of Allison’s existing customers asked if AIM could provide the training. “We were approved by JAUPT as a Driver CPC training centre quite early on and started delivering our Driver CPC training on 13 September 2009 to a company that has returned on the same day annually for the last five years,” said Allison. AIM’s Driver CPC training has gradually grown over this period.

Allison firmly believes in the difference that excellent training can make, underlined by customer feedback received by AIM: “You are not just delivering as trainers you are delivering to make a difference.” We talk to Allison about the Standard of Excellence.

What makes AIM excellent?

“A lot of preparation. This allows us to ensure that the Driver CPC training is relevant to the driver in as many cases as possible. We have a very good and close relationship with our customers and are led by their requirements – they can bring in any specialised equipment they need, for example. Their help allows us to keep the courses relevant and a lot of our courses are tailored to their needs as well as that is high on the agenda in this industry.

“Companies ask us why we are up to £35 more expensive than another nearby trainers. I play an active role in the transport sector, chairing the Freight Transport Association’s East Midlands Freight Council and a representative at the FTA’s National Council. The huge amount of effort we put into Driver CPC via meetings on subjects such as vulnerable road users and sleep apnea with organisations including the FTA, RHA and DVSA means that we are as up to date as possible. Our customers like the fact that we are ‘on the ball’.

“Together with my other trainers, we like to train ‘friendly’; we are not lecturers and we invite questions – our classes are good humoured. Anybody could walk through our door today and I’d be comfortable that all of us are singing from the same hymn sheet, with the same lesson plans. We work very hard to ensure consistency across the board.”

Why apply for the Standard of Excellence?

“We frequently hear about the standards of other trainers. Drivers tell us how much they have learned here and that they’d never go back to their previous trainer again. I believe the Standard of Excellence can give Driver CPC a good name. It shows that we at AIM are delivering excellent training. There are other trainers out there doing it cheaper but you might not get the quality that AIM and the Standard of Excellence believe you should.”

How did you find the process?

“We enjoyed the process - we had everything in place and are an open operation.”

How will you use the Standard of Excellence and how will it help your customers?

“AIM is ready to shout out to everybody that we have the Standard. We already have one customer who is over the moon because they have now ticked the box to say that they have Driver CPC training, including vulnerable road users, and that it has been delivered by somebody who meets the Standard of Excellence. This has led directly to the customer securing a new contact they had tendered for – so they think it is fantastic.”

Is the Standard of Excellence a good idea?

“I think the Standard of Excellence is a great idea. The Standard is not issued to anybody and everybody. There are still trainers out there delivering whatever they want to deliver but AIM can now show that we are not only working to Driver CPC legislative standards but we have gone one step further. I would encourage others to apply. Depending on what you do with it, the Standard of Excellence can offer a massive marketing opportunity.”