IMI welcomes Select Committee report on skills
The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) has welcomed a new Select Committee report calling for further investment and reform in skills, training and apprenticeships.
The report, Further Education and Skills, has been published by The Commons Education Select Committee.
It urges the government to step up its focus on skills development and to create clearer pathways into the job market, while also calling for the apprenticeship process to simplified and greater support for small businesses looking to take on apprentices.
It said: “The success of the government’s five national missions – economic growth, clean energy, public safety, opportunity, and healthcare – depends on a skilled, adaptable, and inclusive workforce. The further education and skills sector is central to delivering these ambitions but is currently under strain from fragmented policy, chronic underfunding, and systemic barriers to access and progression.”
Business support
The report continued: “For many prospective apprentices and employers, the pathway to an apprenticeship remains unclear, bureaucratic, and discouraging. The process must be simplified if the government is to boost enrolment in apprenticeships and promote higher-paid jobs in key sectors.
“Dedicated support and guidance must also be provided to help Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) navigate the system.”
Apprenticeships
The IMI has long championed automotive apprenticeships as critical in bridging the sector’s skills gap.
Nick Connor, CEO of the IMI said: “The Education Select Committee is right to highlight the urgent need for reform and investment in the further education system. For the automotive industry, apprenticeships remain the gold-standard entry route, but without a well-funded, well-resourced Further Education sector, the pipeline of trainers and learners will dry up.
“The automotive sector needs a skills system that works for every learner and gives employers confidence that the workforce of the future will be ready to deliver growth, innovation, and the transition to net zero.
“Ultimately, government, employers, and colleges share the same ambition: a skilled, adaptable workforce. To achieve this, the FE sector needs long-term investment, and the right structures to deliver technical education that meets industry needs.”
