How the IMI is inspiring the next generation into automotive

Everyone knows that automotive needs to attract more talent if it wants to remain successful. That’s easier said than done when there is so much competition between industries, but getting out and talking to a new generation is critical to making an impact.

The IMI is constantly on the road, driving up and down the country making sure everyone knows how exciting automotive is, and why it should really be on the list of possible career choices.

So, what has the institute been up to? Here are just some of the events it’s been to, supercharging interest in the sector…

1. Generation Careers Fair Hub

We’ve attended two of the Generation events put on by the Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership in both Welwyn Hatfield and Broxbourne (with another pencilled in for Stevenage soon). These events welcome dozens of schools from the area, helping us directly engage with over 2,000 school age students.

2. National Apprenticeship and Education Events, Northwest 

We attended the National Apprenticeship and Education event in Manchester at the impressive Etihad stadium. The open event for all the schools across the Northwest of England brought together over 4,000 students, and we engaged or introduced most of them to automotive careers options across the day.

3. Generation Three Rivers: Sustainability Career Fair

We attended the Three Rivers careers event, which focused on informing young people about how automotive careers are evolving to meet the needs of the environment both in terms of technical and non-technical roles. It’s an important consideration for the next generation and with over 500 students attending the event, was an important place to show the sector’s credentials.

4. Getting out to Schools

On top of the larger events, we have attended various individual school careers events including in Milton Keynes, Chelmsford, Rickmansworth, Bedford, Northfleet, Kettering, Colchester, Cheshunt, Bedford, Wisbech and many more.

All together in the first three months of 2024 we have directly engaged over 12,000 students with information and insights into career options in automotive, and over the last financial year over 200,000 young people have seen or engaged with our outreach and careers information across in person events and digitally through Autocity and social media combined.

The need to highlight just how exciting automotive never ends, made even more important by the need to attract new talent into the sector to keep it a success. It’s why attending events is critical to the IMI’s work. And it’s continuing.

Head to IMI Autocity to find out where the IMI is heading next and for a wealth of careers information