Phillip Hunter Smash Repairs in Lismore, NSW is the latest body repairer to be awarded I-CAR Gold Class Collision status.
Alison and Scott Hunter, owners of the business, said they joined I-CAR’s Road to Gold programme as they recognised the importance of keeping staff up-to-date with changing repair guidelines, along with maintaining a competitive edge. As a Suncorp recommended repairer, the pair said achieving Gold Class accreditation also met the training requirements of the network.
The Hunters said they welcomed the flexibility offered by the I-CAR programme.
“The variety of times made available to us for online training was fantastic,” they said. “It gave everybody an equal opportunity to take part in getting their qualifications at a time convenient to them, which made it a lot easier to work around their work and personal commitments. The virtual classroom instructors are great in explaining the logistics of the lesson and are very helpful if you have questions.
“It was difficult for staff with limited computer knowledge to get started on the online virtual classroom initially, but everyone chipped in which became a real team building exercise as well,” the Hunters said.
“We would highly recommend I-CAR training to every business. We not only plan to stay Gold Class, but also plan to introduce our apprentices and office staff to some additional learning to help them understand the running of the business and the repair processes involved.
I-CAR praised the business for its commitment to training.
“The pledge by Phillip Hunter Smash Repairs to continue training after accreditation is something that all our Gold Class repairers have undertaken because they recognise the value and importance of training to meet the ongoing technological advancements and everchanging demands of the collision repair industry,” said I-CAR.