IMI responds to the Department for Work and Pension’s Green Paper – Pathways to Work

Renewed disabilities focus should drive greater investment into employability and upskilling

The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) has expressed cautious optimism over the Department for Work and Pension’s Green Paper – Pathways to Work – published yesterday. The automotive professional body states that increased policy focus on ‘economically inactive’ populations could well drive greater investment into employability and upskilling initiatives, which would be applauded by the automotive sector.

The new Green Paper outlines proposals to reform disability benefits and support more people into work. The focus is on modernising the welfare system, improving assessments, and reducing long-term inactivity. The consultation runs until July 25th, 2025, with the IMI already mapping its formal response, confirming the role that automotive sector employers plays in supporting diverse talent pathways and how its existing industry skills programme can underpin the government’s objectives.

Disability representation with the automotive workforce has shown progress in recent years, now sitting at 15.5%. However, as a sector that continues to struggle to fill vacancies, there remains a crucial need for greater inclusivity, alongside clear validation of the contribution of individuals with disabilities. The IMI has always advocated that disability diversity enhances inclusivity, taps into underutilised talent, and broadens understanding of diverse customer needs. An inclusive approach that accommodates disabilities can help bridge the skills gap.

Sarah Whiteside Jones, Director of Membership, Engagement and Public Affairs commented, “The IMI, its members and its supporters have long been committed to driving and delivering skills development, particularly for individuals returning to the workforce with long-term health conditions. However, for all individuals with disabilities, physical and non-visible, balancing benefit reforms with sustainable pathways to skilled employment is key. It will be important to monitor how local delivery models and incentives for employers proposed by the Green Paper will evolve, but renewed energy that creates opportunities for pilot schemes, apprenticeships, and inclusive employment programmes must be celebrated and supported.”