Insights by IMI
Driving Auto Forwards
As the automotive industry evolves, identifying and addressing the key drivers shaping the future skills landscape is crucial. That’s why we've released a series of insights for you to take a deep dive into.
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Breaking Barriers with Nic Hamilton
In this Insights by IMI episode, Nic Hamilton shares how determination, innovation, and inclusion are reshaping automotive. He reflects on his motorsport journey, overcoming accessibility challenges, and why greater inclusion is key to building a stronger, more diverse, and dynamic industry.
Nurturing Talent in Automotive
While inclusion remains a challenge in the automotive sector, Colin and Sarah highlight the progress being made to open doors and create opportunities for underrepresented talent. They explore what needs to change to ensure the industry builds a diverse, inclusive, and future-ready workforce.
Management and Leadership
While the number of management positions may remain stable, the skills required, where those roles are needed, and the expectations of leadership are shifting significantly. This is for senior leaders who want to future-proof their organisations and ensure their teams are equipped to lead through change.
Securing the Automotive Talent Pipeline
Emma Carrigy from the IMI and Andy Turbefield from Halfords Autocentres explore the vital topic of securing the automotive talent pipeline. They also reflect on what needs to change to remain an attractive career destination for the next generation.
In conversation with Sarah Sillars
This episode features Sarah Sillars OBE, Hon FIMI, the newly appointed interim CEO of the IMI and explores the IMI's crucial work in attracting and retaining talent, shaping the skills agenda, and providing the professional recognition that empowers individuals throughout their careers.
On Tariffs and Trade
In this special episode of Insights by IMI, host Daniel Zealander, Communications Manager at the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI), is joined by Jim Saker, IMI President, and John Neill, IMI Vice President, to explore the far-reaching implications of the proposed 25% US tariffs on UK automotive exports.
Empowering the Next Generation
In this episode, we're joined by not one, but two gold medal-winning apprentices from the prestigious IMI Skills Competitions. Victoria Steele and Jordan Lingham, alongside their incredible mentor Dan from Sinclair Group Swansea, are here to spill the secrets of their success.
Driving Automotive Forwards
In this inaugural episode, we'll be exploring how the IMI driving automotive policy forward with Hayley Pells, our Policy Lead. We'll discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the automotive workforce, and how the IMI is leading the conversation to address automotive skills, recruitment and future skills.
The impact of Covid-19 on apprenticeships
Apprentices are the backbone of the automotive industry. In order to secure the future of the sector, there needs to be a healthy amount of talent entering the workplace. COVID-19 caused a lot of problems for a lot of industries, automotive is no exception. Recent IMI research suggests we may have lost a staggering 18,000 apprentices as a result.
Read the full report or discover the key insights below.
The 18,000 lost apprentices
The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic lead to a significant decline in apprenticeship starts and left a staggering 18,000 apprenticeship positions lost in its wake, that on current trends, will take 16 years to recoup.
Advice from a technical apprentice
Ask as many questions as possible. You'll get out what you put in. All the people I've worked with and all the people I've met up at the training centre will tell you as much as you want to know.
Empowering apprentices
18,000 apprenticeships – which have always been so crucial to the sector’s success – were lost as a direct result of the pandemic. The IMI's Joanna Hollingdale talks resources that can help today's apprentices succeed.
The top ten drivers for skills change in UK automotive in the next two years
This report outlines the top ten key drivers for skills in the UK automotive sector and their implications for the workforce over the next two years.
Read the full report or discover the key insights below.
The top ten drivers for change
In this episode of the IMI's Talking Point Podcast, we're diving into the first “Insights by IMI” report. We unpick the top ten drivers of change and the short-term skills requirements. Listen now for an overview of the report.
Unlocking the potential of ADAS
In the fast-evolving landscape of automotive technology, ADAS is becoming increasingly integral to the driving experience. This emphasises the need for skilled technicians and the importance of driver awareness
Driving diversity
Diversity is not merely an ethical imperative; it's a strategic advantage. Just 18% of the automotive workforce are women, dipping to 13% in senior positions. There is a pressing need for greater gender diversity.
Are ex-offenders the answer?
In an industry with record unfilled vacancies, can we really afford to be turning down 25% of the UK’s eligible workforce? Guest author Jacob Hill, founder of Offploy discusses a potential solution to the skills gap.
Luke Garratt talks vacancies
Vacancies are everywhere. The whole industry is suffering and there is just not the experience there to fill them. It's no surprise that there’s a correlation between job vacancies and rising demand for training.
Diversifying the workforce
Andy Turbefield, Head of Quality at Halfords Autocentres joins us for our podcast to discuss how the company is helping diversify its workforce and why it's important for everyone to do their part.
Driving towards inclusion
This report explores the state of diversity and inclusion within the UK automotive sector, highlighting areas of progress while also pointing out critical gaps and challenges.
Attrition and Diversity Trends in the Automotive Sector
The sector is undergoing its biggest period of change since the invention of the internal combustion engine, thanks to the electrification and automation of vehicles. The UK sector is seeing record levels of vacancies, with 4.3 vacancies for every 100 employees.
Navigating Attrition: Strategies for Retaining Talent
The lower a sector’s attrition the more talent is retained within it, and with thoughtful strategies and proactive measures, it’s possible to mitigate attrition and foster a thriving workplace culture, which will help lower our sector’s attrition rate from 10.9%.