The British Parking Association and WAMITAB work together to deliver sector specific qualifications

The British Parking Association (BPA) and WAMITAB have recently signed a partnership agreement to ensure that professionalism in the UK parking sector continues to be enhanced and supported by the provision of regulated, quality-driven, occupationally-led qualifications.

WAMITAB, which has 25 years’ experience in the provision of government-regulated qualifications and licences to practise, with a history of working with departments such as Defra and the devolved governments, is now the awarding organisation partner for the BPA. From 1st January 2014, approved training centres will be able to offer relevant parking qualifications to the parking profession.

Two professional parking qualifications, which are industry-approved and government-regulated by Ofqual, have been developed initially:

• Level Two Award for Parking Enforcement Officers – a qualification that has a specific focus on conflict management

• Level Three Award for Notice Processors – a qualification that provides essential training for office-based, information management and administrative roles

As the partnership progresses, the development of other qualifications, accreditations and learning programmes, including online provision, will also be considered.

Chris James, CEO of WAMITAB, said: “WAMITAB recognises that working with the BPA offers a great opportunity to serve an increasingly important business sector. There is a clear convergence between the content of WAMITAB’s current qualifications and the parking profession in terms of conflict management, customer care, health and safety, management and leadership, together with soft skills such as literacy, numeracy and communication skills. In addition, there is a common requirement to meet the needs of the built environment and facilities management in areas such as pollution control and congestion management.”

Patrick Troy, Chief Executive of the BPA, added: “WAMITAB has the expertise to be our awarding organisation partner because for many years it has been developing qualifications for sectors that share the same challenges as the parking profession. The BPA, its membership and the parking profession can benefit greatly from WAMITAB’s experience and, in turn, we are looking forward to sharing our sector specific knowledge with WAMITAB.

“Making parking a recognised profession is a core objective of the BPA’s new five-year strategy, and the partnership with WAMITAB will help us to achieve this important goal.”

For more information call WAMITAB on 01604 231950, email info.admin@wamitab.org.uk or visit www.wamitab.org.uk

@WAMITAB