Automotive sector opens the door to high-tech green careers

Significant growth in green-linked roles forecast by the Institute of the Motor Industry as government reforms to apprenticeships set to help more young people take up training placements for skilled jobs

Following last week’s boost to apprenticeships by the government¹, the voice of the automotive workforce, the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI), has identified the wealth of opportunities for green-linked roles.

The IMI's Green Skills Report forecasts that green-linked roles will grow from 14% of the automotive workforce today to nearly 30% by 2032, with Data & IT roles expanding by 51% and Remanufacturing & Recycling roles growing by 23%.

New YouGov data² on parental attitudes to apprenticeships shows that 90% of parents of 14-17 year olds would consider an apprenticeship for their child. And parental attitudes to the automotive sector shift dramatically when presented with accurate information about the careers available. Parents will actively encourage their children to seek out careers in Engineering (56%) and sustainability-focused sectors. These disciplines are core to the automotive industry with a range of apprenticeships providing the ideal door opener to future careers.

“The UK automotive sector is undergoing rapid transformation – from electrification to the use of data and AI,” explained Aimee Wallis, Careers Partnership Lead at the IMI. “This means there is a broad range of apprenticeships that go well beyond traditional perceptions of working in the motor industry.  

“The apprenticeships available in the sector provide the opportunity for young people to build their career, offering exposure to cutting-edge technologies as automotive employers increasingly require skills in electric and hybrid vehicle servicing, diagnostics, and emerging AI-driven systems. And de-bunking age-old perceptions about the sector, the YouGov research shows that parents are particularly responsive to learning about modern automotive roles.”

The automotive sector is at the forefront of the UK's transition to net zero, with roles that would surprise most parents:

• Electric Vehicle Technicians – using diagnostics to manage the operating systems of a wide range of electric vehicles
• Battery Systems Engineers – designing and testing the power systems of tomorrow's vehicles
• Sustainability Officers – tracking carbon emissions and driving environmental performance
• Telematics and Fleet Data Analysts – using AI and connected vehicle data to reduce emissions
• Hydrogen Vehicle Engineers – developing zero-emission transport solutions
• Circular Economy Specialists – ensuring vehicles and components are recycled and reused

"These aren't 'garage jobs' but technology and engineering careers that happen to be in automotive,” added Aimee Wallis. “Apprentices gain first-hand experience with these innovations, making them future-ready and highly sought-after.”

The IMI offers a range of resources and information to help young people understand the career opportunities that exist in the automotive sector.  Visit There's More to Motor to find out more.
 

¹ https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-vows-to-unlock-opportunities-for-young-people-across-the-country-ahead-of-national-apprenticeship-week 
 ²All figures from YouGov Plc. Total sample size: 1,002 UK parents of children aged 14-17. Fieldwork: 7-12 August 2025. Survey conducted online. Figures weighted and representative of all UK parents of children aged 14-17