A detailed analysis of the learning provision currently available to meet the skills priorities of the UK’s automotive manufacturing sector was commissioned by the Automotive Industrial Partnership.
It was unveiled as leading car manufacturers launched the Automotive Apprenticeship Matching Service as a platform to develop the skilled workforce of the future.
Leading car manufacturers have launched the Automotive Apprenticeship Matching Service as a platform to develop the skilled workforce of the future.
Each year the Matching Service, developed and funded through the Automotive Industrial Partnership (an industry skills collaboration, supported by government), will help up to 10,000 high quality candidates per annum secure an automotive apprenticeship, where the company programmes to which they apply are oversubscribed. The service is expected to be of particular benefit to the automotive supply chain.
The launch of the Matching Service comes as new research carried out by advanced manufacturing skills body Enginuity , on behalf of the Automotive Industrial Partnership, reveals how a shortage of adequate training provision in the sector could start to impact on the skills needed to sustain automotive productivity in this growing sector, particularly in manufacturing and engineering disciplines. The report complements earlier research, which found up to 5,000 job vacancies in the sector could be vacant due to a lack of skills needed to fulfil them.
Jo Lopes, Head of Technical Excellence at Jaguar Land Rover and Chair of the Automotive Industrial Partnership said, “As an industry, the automotive sector has a long standing history of providing apprenticeships – and there are many great career opportunities. But we recognise that there is more we can do to attract and support our new talent pipeline. By taking a collaborative and innovative approach to developing new skills solutions, with larger employers working alongside smaller component manufacturers we are ensuring that our whole industry will benefit.”
The Matching Service is a unique interactive service facilitated by apprenticeship matching platform GetMyFirstJob. It will work smartly and collaboratively with both candidates and companies across the supply chain, providing full support throughout the recruitment and development process.
Skills Minister Nick Boles said: “The UK is the most productive of all European car manufacturers – if we are to maintain this position, it’s essential that we have the right skills. Apprenticeships provide an opportunity for young people to gain valuable skills that employers in the industry want and need and services like the Automotive Apprenticeship Matching Service are a prime example of industry working together to make the most of the opportunities they can offer.”
Natalie Wilson, Head of Commercial Development at EAL, said: “We work with some of the biggest brands in the UK automotive sector as well as small and micro companies in the supply chain. The message we get at every level is that employers need more skilled workers.”
“We welcome the work of the Automotive Industrial Partnership and the Matching Service launch. The sector needs the best skills and knowledge possible to compete in the global race and EAL is proud to support the skills development of the UK automotive sector. Our suite of engineering and motorsport qualifications offer a cutting-edge option for employers to adopt in order to secure a skilled and knowledgeable workforce for the future.”
One firm that the Matching Service will benefit directly is developer and supplier of emissions reduction and fuel efficiency technology for vehicles, Torotrak. Adam Robson, CEO of Torotrak welcomed the initiative, saying: “The Matching Service is a much needed service that will hugely benefit Torotrak. We needed help recruiting high quality candidates with the right training to achieve our growth plans, so the launch of this service couldn’t have come at a better time. We expect it to ease the process for us, resulting in significant recruitment resource, time and cost savings.”
The full research reports and supporting regional data annexes can be downloaded here and here.
