The Mobile Radio Training Trust

What is the Mobile Radio Training Trust (MRTT)?

The Mobile Radio Training Committee, which was formed in 1988, established the MRTT as a Charitable Trust to act as an independent forum and to provide support for training in the mobile radio industry.

The mobile radio industry encompasses an ever-increasing range of public and private systems communicating with mobile radio telephones, pagers, and peripherals carried in vehicles and by people.

The most important task of the MRTT is to identify and promote effective training for the mobile radio industry.

The MRTT works with representatives of industry, institutions and individuals who can contribute to its objectives.

What are the objectives of the MRTT?

	To identify and promote the availability of courses for training all people who work within the mobile radio industry. This includes all aspects including customer service and technical courses
	To promote the mobile radio industry training objectives by working closely with the Telecommunications National Training Organisation to establish National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs).
	To strengthen the links of schools and colleges with the industry and to promote awareness in schools of the vocational training opportunities available.
	To promote the benefits of employing competent staff who have been effectively trained. This is a specified requirement for all businesses who are registered a range of quality standards including ISO 9000, Investors in People and the Radio Quality Assurance Scheme (RQAS).

What needs to be done?

Mobile Communications is one of the fastest growing areas of business in the UK, Europe and the world.

It has been clearly established that competent staff are a key resource in successful and growing businesses, and the rapid increase in the size of the radiocommunications market is matched by an increase in the number of people needed by employers.

More suitable people need to be attracted into the industry by creating greater awareness of the opportunities (and training) available.

To ensure that the needs of the industry for improved staff competence are met it is essential that:

Businesses:

	advise colleges on the competences they need from staff;
	work in partnership with local colleges to promote the availability of training, and assist with the provision of specialist equipment;
	are aware of the availability of NVQs and other relevant qualifications; and
	sponsor college students to provide a combination of training and work experience which will enable them to be immediately effective when starting full-time employment.

Colleges:

	work with industry to identify the training needed by their staff;
	provide training courses suitable for the needs of industry; and
	join with other colleges and organisations (e.g. MRTT) to keep up to date with industry best practice and methods for delivering suitable training.

What is the role of the MRTT and what is it doing?

The MRTT:

	is an independent forum for industry and education to discuss and develop effective training strategies to increase the business effectiveness of people working within the mobile radio industry;
	has carried out direct research into the training needs of the mobile radio industry and also provided the focus for UK responses to European surveys;
	reviews courses and advises on their suitability for the mobile radio industry;
	has sourced specialist test equipment from industry and distributed it to colleges for use with mobile radio courses. Another project to source test equipment and radios is currently in progress;
	identifies and advises employers and potential students of the availability of training suitable for the mobile radio industry;
	represents the mobile radio industry view on the Policy Groups of the Telecommunications National Training Organisation;
	raises the awareness of the benefits of training by attendance at exhibitions and by gaining coverage in the trade press;
	promotes training initiatives such as Modern Apprenticeships, and National Traineeships in the mobile radio industry; and
	has a website showing current projects and information: http://www.mrtt.org.uk

What can you do?

The MRTT needs inputs and support from all areas of industry and education. You can help the mobile radio industry meet the challenges of growth into the millennium, and by doing so help you own business to grow and prosper. Specifically you could help by:

	becoming a member of the MRTT and sponsoring its activities;
	helping to identify the changing training needs of the mobile radio industry;
	offering sponsorship for students at your local college;
	working with schools in making young people aware of the opportunities in the mobile radio industry;
	commissioning a work project;
	providing suitable (redundant) test equipment and radios for distribution to colleges;
	providing inputs to the development of the Modern Apprenticeship and National Traineeship schemes; and
	offering work experience to potential new entrants to the industry and to teachers.

For more information contact

The Secretary
MRTT
PO Box 4041
Worthing
West Sussex, BN14 9RF

Tel: 01903 260515
Fax: 01903 265177

For information on other radio matters contact the Agency Enquiry Point on 020 7211 0211.

The Mobile Radio Training Trust is a company limited by guarantee and a registered charity.
Registered Charity No: 328618
The Registered Office is: Communications House, 16-20 Boston Place, Marylebone, London NW1 6HY.
Registered in England No. 2469960

RA 124 June 2001 (rev 5)