Newslink April marketing special

For all the latest news, see www.msagb.com
Conference proves there’s no
substitute for face-to-face events
Colin Lilly
Editor,
Newslink
At the end of March, MSA GB held its annual
conference in Telford. I say annual but the last
four years were affected by Covid 19 and its
after effects, so they were held via Zoom.
The opportunity to meet face-to-face was
taken by some members who had attended
before but many were attending for the first
time. Reports on the speakers are given
elsewhere in this issue (from pg 14).
Many trainers feel that the internet can act
as a source for the information they require,
but face-to-face events provide much more.
Not only do the presenters share information
on their field of expertise, they answer
questions, not only at the time, but
individually during the breaks.
The fact that delegates had the
opportunity to network and discuss events
of the day adding to the event’s valuable
Continuous Professional Development (CPD).
The DVSA has stated that it sets great store
on gaining CPD. Zoom events do not give you
this added value.
For a day delegate to participate cost less
than the price of two hour-long lessons. The
value to the trainer is worth much more than
that. Without development there is
stagnation.
Conference report
Members enjoyed a great weekend in Telford at the
2024 MSA GB Conference. Find out what happened
in our full coverage, starting on page 14
If you feel that you cannot attend a national
event there will more local events held
throughout the year, by the MSA GB Area
teams. These are scaled down versions of the
main event but of equal value.
Details of these events are publicised in
Newslink and on the MSA GB website. Make
2024 the year that you attend one of these
events to see for yourself.
Just after the conference the DVSA
announced that its employees who are
members of the Public and Commercial
Services Union (PCS) had accepted the
Memorandum of Understanding covering the
dispute it had with DVSA. These issues
involved terms and conditions and standards
of safety for driving tests.
Hopefully, the continuing discussions will
lead to a more stable delivery of driving tests
without the threat of strikes,
This is unlikely to lead to an immediate
reduction in driving test waiting times as it
coincides with the return to normal duties for
the warrant card holders who had been
conducting driving tests.
However, in the long term this may attract
more recruits to conduct driving tests and
their retention.
The driving test waiting times are reducing
but not by as much as the DVSA, trainers and
learners would like.
Let us hope this situation resolves itself;
the end to the examiner dispute is an
important step forward.
Welcome to your
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Follow the link
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Newslink
COVER STORY
A screengrab from
the new BBC film
Drive Fast Die Young,
which has been hailed
by road safety
professionals
and the DVSA as a
game-changer in
highlighting the
problems the UK has with young male
drivers addicted to dangerous driving and
speeding. See pg 12
The Voice of MSA GB
Issue 375 • April 2024
New documentary
a ‘must watch’
We work for a l Driver Trainers. Want to join? SAVE £25 – see pg 39 for special offer
msagb.com
MSA GB Conference:
Full report inside
from page 14
BBC film Drive Fast, Die Young described
as a ‘game changer’ in helping young
men kick the dangerous driving habit
NEWSLINK n APRIL 2024 07