Vehicle manufacturers BMW, Jaguar Land Rover and Scania are pioneering efforts to develop a UK-wide benchmark quality standard for training in the motor industry.

All three - along with the Thatcham accident repair research centre recently received the new national Training Quality Standard (TQS) from Skills Minister David Lammy and Michelle Roberts from the Learning and Skills Council at the official launch of TQS.

TQS has been introduced across the board to recognise the best organisations delivering training and development to employers and customers.

Dr Adrian Birch, manager of technical training delivery at the Jaguar Land Rover Technical Academy, described the assessment and verification process as "very robust, providing an open and honest assessment".

He added: "It is too easy to continue what you are doing and assume that it is the right thing to do without having an external measure."

Les Scammell, career programmes education manager with BMW Group UK, said: "The standard has been a powerful analytical tool, helping us to develop and refine the evidence base that underpins our quality improvement strategies."

The Training Quality Standard will provide principal evidence for industry 'Recognition of Training Excellence'. Manufacturer training, FE colleges and training providers will be invited to sign up to a code of practice designed to drive professionalism and integrity in the way in which training is managed and delivered. The two components together will meet the requirements for the full industry 'Recognition of Training Excellence' award.

Further information on the TQS is available at www.trainingqualitystandard.co.uk .