The skills gap is widening, we need to act

Automotive offers career opportunities for people of all ages, abilities, race, ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation, yet we are still struggling to bring in the talent we so desperately need.

The IMI predicts a 160,000 shortfall of workers in the UK automotive sector by 2031 based on figures from its Automotive Sector Employment report.

We’re trying to turn the tide. We’re lobbying government, the automotive industry and the education sector to invest in addressing the shortage of qualified EV technicians, and the majority have stepped up to the challenge. But our latest report worryingly reveals that the UK’s lack of EV skills is just the tip of the iceberg.

More needs to be done to attract young blood into the UK’s automotive sector. But it isn’t easy, especially when automotive isn’t always seen as a career destination, even though it offers so much.

The IMI’s Diversity Task Force’s Perception of the Automotive Sector survey highlighted the issues we face. While over half of 16-18 year old survey respondents said they had a clear career plan, just 16% said they had considered the automotive sector as an option. That’s a damning statistic, and one we desperately need to address.

Put simply, a lack of understanding about the range of roles, qualifications needed and salary expectations is hampering our ability to bring new talent in. We need to change that.

It’s why the IMI is exhibiting at this year’s The British Motor Show, Farnborough, 18-22nd August, to highlight its concerns on the UK’s skills shortage and show how fantastic the industry is. It’s why we’ll continue to champion apprenticeships. It’s why we’ll never stop celebrating a sector that can deliver for so many. But we all need to bang the drum, and highlight just how brilliant automotive is.

Automotive is going through unprecedented changes and the IMI wants to make sure you’re ready for the future. If you’ve got any questions, please get in touch on +44 (0)1992 519025, or send an email to hello@theimi.org.uk and we’ll try out best to help.

With my very best wishes

Steve