The IMI welcomes Wales’ new First Minister

Professional body believes Eluned Morgan’s ‘green credentials’ provide great opportunity to build automotive skills in Wales

The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) welcomes the appointment of Eluned Morgan as the Welsh First Minister. Having authored a Green Paper on energy while a Member of the European Parliament, and worked as Director of National Business Development in Wales for SSE (SWALEC), one of the UK’s largest energy companies, the IMI believes her understanding of sustainability issues will be invaluable in supporting the professional body’s mission to tackle the automotive sector’s skills gap so that the country’s net zero objectives can be achieved.  

The UK automotive sector currently has approximately 20,000 vacancies across more than 200 varied roles. And in Wales just 5.9% of automotive technicians  are qualified to work on electric vehicles. There is, therefore, an urgent need for recruitment and upskilling across the principality.

“We very much hope that Wales’ new First Minister will prioritise vocational training, which is vital for the sustainability of the automotive sector”, said Kevin Finn, Executive Chair of the IMI. “It is critical that everything is done to attract the next generation of talent into automotive as well as help career changers see the enormous scope of what is one of the fastest moving and most exciting sectors in the UK and Welsh economy.”