Over 3,000 individuals were successful in their membership application during the 2006/2007 financial year, surpassing the organisation's objective of recruiting 2,500.

It is the highest total in the IMI's 87-year history.

The growth in recruitment now brings total IMI membership to over 25,000.

Numbers have been buoyed by the organisation's successful Automotive Technician Accreditation scheme, which now has 4,500 entrants.

“We have been greatly encouraged by the industry's increasing appetite for sector specific recognition which in turn, offers significant benefits to the individual and the business,” said IMI chief executive Sarah Sillars.