Automotive Management Accreditation

Automotive Management Accreditation (AMA)

AMA is a voluntary accreditation scheme designed to improve management and the consistency of management within the automotive retail industry. AMA will also provide recognition of good managers and leaders. The scheme will ultimately make businesses in the sector more efficient and increase profits.

AMA aims

• To provide an industry benchmark for management and leadership
• To increase the effectiveness of managers and leaders
• To raise the quality of management and leadership training delivery and assessment
• To enable individuals to demonstrate current competence and professionalism
• To drive business efficiency
• To drive a culture shift in the way the industry supports managers and leaders
• To provide clear progression and career paths for managers and leaders in the sector
• To improve the support the sector currently offers its managers and leaders
• To grow and retain our managers and leaders
• To enable individuals to demonstrate current competence and professionalism
• To drive business efficiency
• To attract, develop and retain good people

Five reasons to become AMA registered

• AMA highlights areas of competence and areas where improvements can be gained, giving you insight into your management skills
• It is an industry designed and approved accreditation, therefore it is relevant and recognised by the industry
• You'll receive regular e-newsletters providing up-to-date industry news, relevant CPD and management and leadership training opportunities
• Recognition, status and improved career options
• Registration on the AMA professional register

Five reasons why employers should have managers accredited

• To understand where the skills gaps are within their business
• To understand where focused training, coaching or cost efficient solutions can provide improved efficiency and increased profitability
• AMA assessment highlights promising individuals for progression, which helps succession planning to future-proof the business
• Can lead to funding opportunities to support the business training needs
• Drives cost effective training and development

Why choose AMA?

• Industry driven - The IMI have conducted significant research within the industry to ensure the AMA scheme is relevant and assesses managers in the way employers want.
• Simple and cost effective - The assessment lasts one day and follows a clear, structured approach to accreditation.
• No prerequisite qualifications - Prerequisite qualifications are not needed for AMA assessment.
• Good managers can be measured without unnecessary cost.
• Online record of achievement - Record of achievements can be easily accessed online via the AMA website.
• Progression - There are three levels of AMA assessment Levels 3 (First Line Manager), 5 (Middle Manager) and 7 (Senior Manager), providing a clear progression path.
• Continuous improvement, via CPD - Accredited status is valid for a set time period. During this time, accredited managers will keep up to date using CPD and through regular e-communications from IMI.
• Ethical development - AMA scheme ensures that accredited managers sign up to the Code of Conduct.

The assessment process

• The 360° appraisal - A 360° appraisal will be conducted by your line manager and colleagues before the assessor's visit. Afterwards, you and the assessor discuss the 360° to enable you to gain valuable insight.
• The Code of Conduct - The assessment process includes you signing the AMA Code of Conduct.
• The online test - An online, multi-choice test will be included on the assessment day.
• The assessor visit - The assessor will observe how you communicate with your colleagues in a team meeting. You are required to make a presentation about a business improvement you have introduced within the business. There will also be a one-to-one interview with the assessor.

There is a flexible 'three way' assessment approach to AMA:

1. An assessor can visit businesses to help employers with limited management and leadership provision. The AMA website is   an up-to-date resource for current AMA centres with AMA assessors.
2. If an employer or training provider has an existing programme that meets the same areas of assessment as the AMA scheme, the assessment can be mapped to achieve the external recognition.
3. AMA can be positioned as the assessment day at the end of any programme to provide the external recognition.

Find out more ...

If you are a manager and wish to find out more about AMA or assessment, visit www.automotivemanagement.org.uk  

If you are an employer with any questions about how the AMA scheme will fit with an existing management and leadership programme, email ama@motor.org.uk