Automotive Education Report reveals stark skills picture
The latest IMI Automotive Education Report has painted a stark picture of the growing skills crisis in the UK automotive sector.
It has revealed that while vocational skills qualifications in other industries increased by six per cent in the last quarter of 2024, in automotive they fell by four per cent.
Further, automotive apprenticeship starts fell by three per cent year-on-year in the first six months of the 2024/25 academic year and remains 12% down on pre-pandemic levels.
The negative trend means the number of automotive apprentices has fallen by an average of 790 every year since 2019.
Emma Carrigy, head of research, careers and inclusion at the IMI, said: “With the number of vehicles on UK roads rising, and the number of technicians training to repair and maintain them falling, UK motorists face an increasing risk of being unable to find someone qualified to properly look after their car.
“And this is creating a ‘perfect storm’ for UK road safety. The approaching skills gap caused by the decline in apprenticeship starts and automotive qualifications could lead to dangerous vehicles being driven, putting drivers, passengers and other road users at serious risk.”
Contributing factors
The IMI believes there are several factors impacting qualifications and apprenticeships. The automotive training workforce is severely under-resourced, while employers appear not to be capitalising on the levy funding available; in the first half of the 2024/25 academic year, 51% of automotive apprenticeship starts were levy-funded, which is significantly lower than the 65% average across all levy-funded apprenticeships.
The other issue is the lack of diversity in the sector.
Carrigy said:
“To futureproof the exciting and fast-moving automotive sector, employers need to tap into a more diverse talent pool and help more people to see the wealth of career opportunities available.
“At the IMI we are committed to improving the image of the sector through our ‘There’s More to Motor’ campaign, highlighting the wide range of job roles. But more needs to be done to integrate education and work, to encourage school leavers and graduates as well as career changers to consider apprenticeships in automotive.”
In numbers
Breaking down the decline in apprenticeship numbers, the IMI has revealed that:
- The Autocare Technician pathway, which accounts for 25% of all apprenticeship starts, fell by 10%
- Motor Vehicle Service and Maintenance Technician – Light Vehicle starts declined by two per cent year-on-year
- Vehicle Damage Mechanical, Electrical and Trim (MET) and Accident Repair Technician pathways are down by 36% and 23% respectively
- Starts in Heavy Vehicle Service and Maintenance and Automotive Glazing increased by 11% and 18%, respectively.
To reverse this, the IMI recently contributed to the House of Lords Select Committee for Social Mobility, arguing that more needs to be done to deliver more informed advice to those leaving school.
It also advocates for more work experience opportunities and says vocational routes should be embedded from Key Stage 3 onwards
