The {industry} got here collectively this week to showcase the numerous alternatives supplied by automotive {industry} careers as half Nationwide Apprenticeship Week, aiming to exhibit the constructive affect apprenticeships can haven’t solely on people but additionally on the companies themselves and the broader financial system.

There was additionally excellent news with figures displaying that the newest educational yr witnessed a notable surge in automotive apprenticeships. The IMI reported the best inflow of latest enrolments since pre-COVID-19 occasions, with a 9% improve in comparison with the earlier educational yr.

Emma Carrigy, IMI’s analysis supervisor, mentioned current evaluation signifies a widening enchantment for automotive research, presumably fuelled by the rising prevalence of superior applied sciences like ADAS and electrical automobiles.

“Of explicit curiosity,” she mentioned, “is the noticeable rise in intermediate-level apprenticeships, which can replicate a rising demand for foundational expertise and entry-level {qualifications}, doubtlessly serving as a gateway to extra superior coaching or addressing present job market calls for.”

IMI knowledge additionally revealed a considerable improve within the variety of under-19s commencing automotive apprenticeships, marking the youngest cohort on this area over the previous six years, reflecting the results of focused outreach efforts to interact youthful folks.

“In comparison with different sectors, automotive boasts the tenth highest proportion improve, which is extraordinarily constructive information for a area grappling with a major expertise hole,” added Carigny.

Campaigns

The Nationwide Franchised Sellers Affiliation (NFDA) is celebrating the week too by way of its Drive My Profession employment initiative. With a deal with spotlighting the invaluable contributions of apprentices in automotive retail sector, NFDA has launched two campaigns to mark the occasion.

The primary marketing campaign, #DMCApprenticetakeover, encourages NFDA members to share their apprentices’ success tales in the course of the week. Drive My Profession will reshare these tales, showcasing the varied expertise and inclusivity throughout the {industry}, whereas additionally providing precious insights and steering for potential job seekers embarking on their profession journeys.

In collaboration with the Automotive 30% Membership, NFDA’s second marketing campaign, #MyApprenticeshipStory, underscores the significance of numerous illustration by encouraging the sharing of tales from present and former feminine apprentices. By highlighting these function fashions, the marketing campaign goals to encourage each younger women and men whereas difficult gender stereotypes and fostering an inclusive surroundings throughout the {industry}.

Sue Robinson, chief government of the NFDA, mentioned: “By way of Drive My Profession, NFDA is tirelessly working to reshape younger folks’s perceptions of the {industry}. Our aim is to tell them concerning the numerous alternatives accessible and to highlight automotive retail as a satisfying profession path. By collaborating with our members, we intention to foster the expansion of the automotive sector collectively.

“These two campaigns are designed to extend consciousness of Nationwide Apprenticeship Week and guarantee a significant celebration of this necessary event, whereas additionally supporting the event of a dynamic and inclusive workforce.”

Work Stays

There’s nonetheless a lot work to be accomplished to keep up current positive aspects, nevertheless. The Unbiased Storage Affiliation (IGA), for one, is urging for surplus funding to be allotted to coaching technicians within the forthcoming Spring Funds subsequent month earlier than its members exit of enterprise.

For the reason that apprenticeship levy launched in 2017, it famous that apprenticeship enrolment has drastically declined, exacerbated by inadequate funding for coaching which has led to a 39% lower in new Stage 2 & 3 Gentle Car apprenticeship registrations.

To handle this concern, the IGA proposes providing monetary incentives from unused Levy funds to people aged 19 and above who will not be at present employed, in training, or present process coaching, one thing which Stuart James, IGA chief government, mentioned was a possibility for the federal government to supply help.

Addressing expertise shortages additionally options as a key precedence within the NFDA finances submission alongside its name for reform of the apprenticeship levy.

“The upcoming Spring Funds in March appears prone to be the final main fiscal occasion earlier than a normal election known as this yr. This offers an important alternative for the Authorities to hearken to the issues of automotive retailers and description its imaginative and prescient for the way forward for the sector” mentioned Robinson.

Steve Eagell Group

The NAW’s theme this yr was ‘Abilities for Life,’ and aimed to replicate how the assist, coaching, and sensible expertise supplied by way of apprenticeships contribute to lifelong expertise improvement. Steven Eagell Group, actively dedicated to this theme, highlighting success tales from each present and previous apprentices in addition to the numerous benefits that apprenticeships supplied it as an employer.

All through the week, the corporate’s weblog is that includes a collection of Q&A classes with present and former apprentices throughout numerous departments, providing insights into their apprenticeship journeys with content material posted on its social media platforms.

The Steven Eagell Group presents apprenticeships throughout numerous roles and departments, each at its Milton Keynes headquarters and inside its dealerships, together with technician, service, elements, finance, advertising, and HR positions and is now extending its apprenticeship alternatives inside its buyer contact centre.

Collaborating intently with native colleges and faculties the place its Toyota and Lexus centres are located, apprentices on the dealership group profit from in depth on-the-job coaching and a complete remunerations and advantages package deal.

Steven Eagell, CEO, mentioned: “Since we first started providing apprenticeships, our enterprise has benefitted considerably from the talents, enthusiasm and innovation that apprentices convey to our firm and we stay up for increasing our providing to incorporate extra roles than ever earlier than.”

Swansway 

All through this week, Swansway can be showcasing success tales from previous and current apprentices on its LinkedIn and Fb Careers pages and offering details about alternatives spanning artistic, technical, mathematical, and different areas comparable to digital advertising.

Lucas Rydings, a digital advertising apprentice with Escalla, works inside Swansway’s advertising group, spending 5 weeks growing expertise there and one week at Escalla, the place he shares his learnings.

Reflecting on his preliminary 4 months as an automotive apprentice, Lucas mentioned: “It’s been fascinating to discover the totally different sides of digital advertising. Understanding the nuances of every function helps me chart my profession path.”

One instance is Sam Sales space who was promoted to the top of enterprise function at Crewe SEAT, showcasing the potential for profession progress from apprenticeship beginnings.

Apprenticeships at Swansway provide sensible expertise essential for profession improvement, says recruitment advisor Carley Farrington, who believes apprenticeships put together people exceptionally effectively for work by immersing them in real-world situations and sometimes provide recognised {qualifications} from manufacturers like JLR and the VAG Group.

David Smyth, a Swansway director, defined that Swansway prides itself on our skilled improvement and serving to its workers to maximise their careers: “Sam is one instance of many who’ve taken this chance and run with it, usually with the place to begin of an apprenticeship.”

Hendy Group

Hendy Group additionally took the chance of Nationwide Apprenticeship Week to bestow the celebrated title of Apprentice of the 12 months upon Ollie Clayton who’s the corporate’s inaugural gross sales apprentice and who has carried out exceptionally over the previous 18 months since becoming a member of its Portsmouth department.

In recent times, Hendy Group has diversified its apprenticeship choices to embody numerous roles, together with advertising, enterprise administration, and gross sales, alongside conventional technician apprenticeships. Presently, 65 apprentices contribute throughout the enterprise with 19 set to graduate this yr.

Sarah Martyn, director of individuals & organisational improvement at Hendy mentioned: “Investing in our future expertise is essential to long-term enterprise sustainability and progress. We search for apprentices who actually need a profession and we decide to offering that.”

“Apprentices convey recent concepts and contribute to the success of our groups by way of their dedication to improvement and are key in our funding in future expertise and bridge the talents hole we see {industry} broad.”

Jardine Motors Group

Age appears to be no barrier to the profession alternatives afforded by an apprenticeship.

A working example is Gary Byrne who marked his fortieth birthday in 2020 as a gross sales specialist at Jardine Motor Group’s Oldham Audi, believing his alternative to safe his maths and English GCSE had slipped away that means {that a} formal training was behind him.

Nevertheless, in a mere 4 years, Gary, is on the verge of finishing his Stage 3 Workforce Chief Apprenticeship with supplier Realise. Not solely has he attained the equal of a GCSE in maths and English, however he is already eyeing his subsequent academic milestone.

Though not the trail he envisioned for his forties, Gary attests to the rewarding expertise and is grateful for Jardine for the chance which aligns completely along with his present function and future aspirations.

As Gary nears the fruits of his apprenticeship, he now anticipates commencing his Stage 5 qualification, aiming to turn into a head of enterprise by the point he turns 50.

Ferrari UK

UK-based Ferrari dealerships are in the meantime opening their workshop doorways to host a spread of open day occasions, giving younger folks a possibility to find out about cutting-edge Ferrari expertise

Ferrari North Europe’s funding in its apprenticeship services quantities to over £500,000 and features a dedication from the its UK sellers to tackle at the least one apprentice in the course of the two/3-year apprentice programme.

A devoted workshop with over £20,000 price of instruments and tools is accessible for apprentices to obtain hands-on coaching for servicing and sustaining Ferrari automobiles.

For the reason that launch of the Ferrari North Europe Apprenticeship programme again in August 2011, over 120 folks have been efficiently skilled and constructed their careers there.

Kia UK

Nationwide Apprenticeship Week additionally noticed Paul Philpott, CEO of Kia UK, inaugurate the brand-new Kia Academy which can equip learners with important STEM expertise vital for the automotive {industry}.

Located inside a purpose-built 40,000 sq. ft. facility in Derby, the academy is focussed on superior electrified coaching to upskill apprentices and grownup learners, fostering management amongst technicians.

The state-of-the-art Kia Academy, led by Skillnet, goals to supply apprentices and grownup learners with these vital expertise by way of Kia Apprenticeships and Kia is utilizing social media to advertise its alternatives and showcase this system’s advantages in the course of the week.

Philpott burdened the Academy’s function in shaping future {industry} leaders and Kia’s dedication to technical coaching and apprenticeships.

“Because the automotive {industry} advances with electrification at its coronary heart, we proceed to spotlight the significance of technical coaching and apprenticeships. These college students will turn into the industry-leaders of the longer term and type the spine of Kia.”

Bentley Motors

Bentley Motors additionally took the chance of Nationwide Apprenticeship Week to launch its eagerly awaited apprenticeship programme, providing 38 openings for functions as a part of its bold Beyond100 technique.

Profitable candidates will be a part of over 4,000 colleagues at its ‘Dream Manufacturing unit’ in Crewe, which is focusing on the unique manufacturing of electrical automobiles by 2030.

The accessible roles primarily emphasize electrical engineering, digital software program, and undertaking administration, spanning from Stage 2 to Stage 6 throughout numerous departments comparable to manufacturing, engineering, high quality, buying, HR, IT, and finance.

Dr Karen Lange, member of the board for human assets, mentioned: “As we execute our Beyond100 technique, recent concepts, numerous views, and revolutionary capabilities are important, and these recruits have the chance to contribute to our ambitions, shaping our future whereas sustaining our place on the forefront of innovation and sustainable luxurious mobility.”

Emily Ruscoe, a level apprentice in physique & trim engineering, shared her expertise: “As an apprentice at Bentley, you are not solely revered but additionally entrusted with duties from the outset, making you are feeling like a valued group member.”

Nissan

Nissan additionally opened the doorways of its technical centre to 150 native college students at a “Driving Innovation” workshop, which aimed to supply a glimpse into STEM careers and to nurture upcoming expertise.

Happening in Cranfield on February 5, the initiative aimed to encourage the subsequent technology of engineers by providing them an unique peek into Nissan’s Analysis and Improvement services and the method behind expertise improvement.

College students have been launched to the newest European fashions – Qashqai, JUKE, and LEAF – all crafted in Cranfield whereas hands-on workshops demonstrated materials energy and structural integrity in addition to showcasing the function of gearboxes and powertrains in car efficiency and gasoline effectivity.

Yuri Rodrigues, regional vice chairman, Nissan AMIEO, highlighted the importance of the day: “Recognising that variety in STEM contributes to a extra revolutionary and inclusive future, it was a pleasure to open our doorways to younger minds, offering them with a hands-on expertise to spark curiosity for the automotive world.”