Gateshead College has launched its Vehicle Damage Assessor (VDA) course, supporting the PAS 125 quality kite mark for the vehicle damage and repair industry.

The programme will be delivered at the new Automotive Skills Centre, close to the existing Skills Academy on Team Valley, in the North East.

Having completed the assessment programme, successful candidates will gain VDA approval, enabling garages and body repair centres to satisfy the BSI conditions for gaining the Quality Assurance process known as PAS 125. The PAS 125 kite mark enables garages to prove that their workforce is operating at a high level of damage assessment and repairs.

Mick Brophy, director of business, innovation and development at the college, said: “We have been working with key partners within the industry locally and nationally in developing the VDA programmes and assessments.

“The development has taken over two years and we are very proud to have gained approval to run the VDA and other ATA assessments. We have an outstanding reputation for designing and delivering programmes with the needs of the employers at its heart.

“We are the only further education college in the UK to have gained the approval to run the VDA ATA route, which not only shows our reputation and ongoing commitment for not only delivering high quality training but also our commitment to helping the automotive industry raise its levels of service and repair.”