‘Simply the best’

Want to be the best rider you can be? Masters training will help you achieve that.

Our current popular programme offers members the opportunity to refresh and develop their skills back to advanced level (Silver diploma) or to advanced ‘First’ level (Gold diploma). It also offers a Masters taster programme to give members a good practical idea of what the National IAM(R) programme involves and to assess if it is suitable for them. We have now added a North West Masters scheme (NWM) to the programme which will offer local development to Masters level. We will be running this scheme in partnership with South Lancashire Advanced Motorcyclists.

So what is this scheme? Members will have heard of the IAM (R) National Masters award which is billed as the highest level civilian motorcycling qualification in the UK. The aim of that national programme is to help a rider to develop the skills and attitudes to become one of Britain's most accomplished road users. It seeks to create dynamic and progressive riders who exercise appropriate restraint and are safe, smooth and systematic at all times, riding at the most advanced level - and doing so with elan. The National course can be purchased from IAM (R) for £299 which includes mentoring and the test fee. We previously ran a local In House Masters scheme heavily discounting the cost of mentoring and offering members the option of purchasing a much cheaper ‘test only’ way of attaining the National Qualification but the IAM (R) will no longer provide the tests. Realising that the cost of the National Masters may be a little much for some members and might prevent them from being mentored and developed to the highest level we decided to introduce the NWM at a greatly reduced cost of just £100

So, what’s the difference between the two schemes. The key difference is that when you take the North West Masters, you will not be ultimately tested by an IAM Area Service Delivery Manager and you will not become a part of the formal list of people that have attained the IAM Masters qualification. So there is no IAM certificate, no formal paperwork so if this is what you’re wanting, the North West Masters scheme isn’t for you.

However, with the North West Masters scheme you will get exactly the same training as you would through the IAM, carried out by exactly the same Masters Mentors and as an alternative to an IAM Area Service Delivery manager providing a “test”, we will arrange for a Masters Mentor from another local group to carry out a formal assessment. We will then award you a certificate as an acknowledgement of the hard work you’ll have done and the improvements you will have made.

Slightly differently from the IAM (R) scheme, we will follow the practice which proved its value with the ‘in house scheme’, by offering anyone who is interested a free taster session with one of our Master Mentors for you to see what a mentoring session is going to be like and get a feel for the type of improvements you’ll be trying to make. If either you or we feel that you are not ready for the Masters scheme we wil offer you further development as part of the CPD programme.

So if you are interested, please consider giving it a go. Members who have involved themselves in Masters development have always found it to be enjoyable and immensely rewarding. If you would like to join the scheme or to discuss it please just contact our Chief Observer Paul Acres or our Secretary Brian Dring who are both Masters mentors on the programme.