ASSESSOR SUMMER 2025 FULL MAGAZINE v2 - Flipbook - Page 7
POWERED BY THE IAEA-BODYSHOP
THATCHAM VEHICLE DAMAGE
ASSESSOR OF THE YEAR
POSTNOMS
IMPORTANT
INFORMATION
Thatcham Research to host assessments for Bodyshop Magazine
Awards, championing industry talent. Pictured are the trainers
and assessors, Scott Loran, Philip Wilkes, Graham Keep, David
Alder, Kieron Woolgar.
For the 昀椀rst time, Thatcham Research’s Automotive Academy hosted
all the practical assessments for the awards from Monday 28 to
Wednesday 30 July, providing the opportunity for skilled technicians
to showcase their expertise across a range of automotive repair
disciplines.
The partnership re昀氀ects Thatcham Research’s commitment to driving
innovation, shaping industry standards, and highlighting the critical
role of ef昀椀cient vehicle damage assessment and repair in enabling
sustainable motoring and keeping total cost of ownership affordable
for drivers.
The disciplines to be assessed will include:
•
•
•
Powered by asTech-Bodyshop Thatcham Advanced Technologies
Technician of the Year
Powered by the IAEA-Bodyshop Thatcham Vehicle Damage
Assessor of the Year
Powered by Vizion-Bodyshop Thatcham Paint and Panel
Technicians of the Year
Three separate apprentice categories will celebrate the young talent
found in our industry including:
•
Powered by Vizion-Bodyshop Thatcham Paint and Panel
Apprentices of the Year
IN MEMORY
OF DAVID FRIEND
The IAEA was saddened to hear about the loss of a retired member of
the Institute, David Friend. David was known to many repairers in and
around the West Midlands and Staffordshire. The message from his
family was received just as this issue went to print. David was a great
colleague and friend, and I’m sure that he has many friends amongst
engineers based in his areas.
His family writes:
“It is with a broken heart this message is being written. Our beloved
partner, dad and grandad, the legend that is Dave Friend sadly
passed away on Monday 28 July. His funeral is going to be held on
Monday 8 September at 4:10pm at Gornal Wood Crematorium. We
can’t explain the pain and loss we feel at this time but he will never be
forgotten and always loved.”
Andrew Patterson, Motor Engineer / Director
at Collision Engineers, is “calling out fake
post-nominals in our industry”.
Andrew writes: “Too often, we see individuals
adding letters after their name that aren’t real
quali昀椀cations – hoping to impress insurers,
clients, or even the courts.
“I understand there is a serious shortage of good,
quali昀椀ed Engineers, but employers sending
anyone with a pulse, an iPhone, and some blag
quals to inspect a vehicle is not the way forward.
“These bogus titles dilute the genuine,
hard-earned quali昀椀cations.
“Many of us have studied late into the night,
worked weekends, and balanced family life to
earn the proper accreditations – the right way.
“When I speak out against rogue reports and
unquali昀椀ed assessors, it’s not just for me – it’s for
every honest professional who’s done the work.”
IAEA RESPONSE
The IAEA’s President, David Punter, said:
“I agree completely with this sentiment and
would urge anyone 昀椀nding any “engineer” using
any post nominals which include IAEA in them
outside of our recognised prescribed set to get in
touch with the IAEA at admin@theiaea.org.
“All too often we see IAEA AQP and would
reiterate that AQP, IMI VDA etc are certi昀椀cations
and not post nominals.
“On the subject of the IMI (and I have been with
them since 1994), I recently took them to task on
an “engineer” using Aff.I.M.I. On his report as his
only post nominals, citing this was dangerous and
irresponsible in the use of modern vehicle repair
standards.
“What made this even worse was the response
that the individual was not even a member
anymore!
“So we the IAEA agree with this and are
working in the background to highlight this
misdemeanour.”
Please read the note on page 4 of this issue
re POST-NOMINALS.
[continued on page 8]
www.iaea-online.org/news/the-assessor | SUMMER 2025 | THE ASSESSORS JOURNAL
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