Plans announced by new Prime Minister Andy Burnham for changes to education have been welcomed by motor industry leaders.
The National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA) said the plans could help more students to access careers in the sector, while the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) described the plans as a “huge relief”.
The Government says that under the Prime Minister’s plan, 14-year-old students will be given the chance to combine core academic subjects with a “high-quality technical education” linked to jobs available in their area, including spending time with employers to gain real-world experience in areas such as engineering.
Ensure you always get AM insight. Make us a preferred source of news on Google.
The NFDA said it believed the proposals were an opportunity to strengthen students’ automotive skills through closer collaboration between schools and colleges and franchised dealers. It added that it would continue to work with the Government to ensure skills policies reflected the sector’s needs.
Sue Robinson, chief executive at the NFDA, said: “Franchised retailers already invest heavily in apprenticeships and technical training and these reforms could encourage more young people to pursue careers in automotive retail while helping employers address long-term skills shortages.
“To maximise the benefits, Government should also increase flexibility within the Growth and Skills Levy, giving employers greater freedom to invest in the training their businesses need.”
Technical skills ‘fundamental’
Nick Connor, CEO at the IMI, said: “It is a huge relief to hear that, at last, Government is recognising the essential role of technical education.
“For too long the focus – and pressure on young people – has been on academic subjects. But now a new technical pathway from age 14 will combine core academic subjects with hands-on technical education, work experience and stronger links to local employers, delivered in partnership with devolved authorities, businesses and schools.”
Connor said that the automotive industry had suffered from career paths not involving university previously being treated as second-best, which he said undermined the “fundamental role” of technical skills in society.
He said: “We really hope that this new policy can be effectively shaped to ensure young people can tap into the enormous range of opportunities across all technical roles, including automotive.
“The sector offers a huge range of exciting and diverse career opportunities and is being transformed by electrification, advanced diagnostics and AI-enabled vehicle systems.
“It needs technicians, engineers and technologists with exactly the kind of skills this announcement is talking about.”
Connor added that the IMI was offering to be directly involved in the shaping of the new policy.
He said: “The test of this policy will be in the detail of how it’s delivered. If these reforms are shaped with genuine input from those with first-hand experience, like our members, and backed by proper investment in facilities, teacher training and industry placements, they could make a real difference to youth unemployment – and to a sector crying out for talent.
“The IMI stands ready to work with Government, devolved authorities and schools to make sure young people leaving this new technical pathway are walking straight into apprenticeships and careers in automotive and that the skills gap the industry has been warning about for years finally starts to close.”