IMI backs plans to double apprenticeship numbers
The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) has welcomed the government’s ambition to double apprenticeship numbers in the UK by 2040.
Prime Minister Sir Kier Starmer has announced a new target of getting at least 10% of young people in technical courses or apprentices by 2040, which is nearly double the number today.
To kickstart these reforms, it has committed nearly £800m extra into funding for 16-19-year-olds next year.
The IMI has backed the announcement, arguing that a previous ambition to see 50% of young people attend university is outdated and not suited to the modern workplace.
Time for change
Nick Connor, IMI CEO, said: “Now is the time for change. The shift away from the outdated 50% university target towards building a future workforce based on apprenticeships and technical education is welcome, but far more is needed.
“The IMI has long argued that apprenticeships and technical education should stand alongside university as mainstream higher-level learning, equal in status and opportunity to degrees. We welcome the government’s recognition of this but gold-standard apprenticeships must mean more than rhetoric.
“We need clear definitions, funding reform, support for employers in accessing levy funds more easily, and a focus on completions, retention, and wage progression, not just starts. Measurable criteria tied to learner outcomes and employer needs are fundamental.”
Tipping point
Connor continued: “The automotive sector is already at a tipping point. With the UK’s EV transition, wider use of ADAS technology, and urgent demand for digital and data talent, the skills gap is holding back productivity, weakening the economy, and threatening road safety.
“To truly widen access, improve retention, and secure the sector’s future, government and industry must agree on what a true gold standard looks like and that must happen now.”
