The {industry} got here collectively this week to showcase the numerous alternatives supplied by automotive {industry} careers as half Nationwide Apprenticeship Week, aiming to show the constructive affect apprenticeships can haven’t solely on people but in addition on the companies themselves and the broader economic system.
There was additionally excellent news with figures exhibiting that the most recent tutorial yr witnessed a notable surge in automotive apprenticeships. The IMI reported the very best inflow of latest enrolments since pre-COVID-19 occasions, with a 9% improve in comparison with the earlier tutorial yr.
Emma Carrigy, IMI’s analysis supervisor, mentioned latest evaluation signifies a widening attraction for automotive research, presumably fuelled by the rising prevalence of superior applied sciences like ADAS and electrical autos.
“Of specific curiosity,” she mentioned, “is the noticeable rise in intermediate-level apprenticeships, which can mirror a rising demand for foundational expertise and entry-level {qualifications}, probably 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 big 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 throughout the week. Drive My Profession will reshare these tales, showcasing the various expertise and inclusivity inside the {industry}, whereas additionally providing useful 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 various illustration by encouraging the sharing of tales from present and former feminine apprentices. By highlighting these position fashions, the marketing campaign goals to encourage each younger women and men whereas difficult gender stereotypes and fostering an inclusive setting inside the {industry}.
Sue Robinson, chief govt of the NFDA, mentioned: “Via Drive My Profession, NFDA is tirelessly working to reshape younger folks’s perceptions of the {industry}. Our purpose is to tell them in regards to the various alternatives out there and to highlight automotive retail as a satisfying profession path. By collaborating with our members, we purpose 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 essential event, whereas additionally supporting the event of a dynamic and inclusive workforce.”
Work Stays
There may be nonetheless a lot work to be achieved to keep up latest positive aspects, nevertheless. The Impartial Storage Affiliation (IGA), for one, is urging for surplus funding to be allotted to coaching technicians within the forthcoming Spring Price range subsequent month earlier than its members exit of enterprise.
Because the 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 Mild Automobile apprenticeship registrations.
To handle this problem, the IGA proposes providing monetary incentives from unused Levy funds to people aged 19 and above who should not at the moment employed, in schooling, or present process coaching, one thing which Stuart James, IGA chief govt, mentioned was a chance for the federal government to offer help.
Addressing expertise shortages additionally options as a key precedence within the NFDA funds submission alongside its name for reform of the apprenticeship levy.
“The upcoming Spring Price range in March appears more likely to be the final main fiscal occasion earlier than a basic election is known as this yr. This offers an important alternative for the Authorities to take heed 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 mirror how the help, 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 sequence of Q&A classes with present and former apprentices throughout varied departments, providing insights into their apprenticeship journeys with content material posted on its social media platforms.
The Steven Eagell Group presents apprenticeships throughout various roles and departments, each at its Milton Keynes headquarters and inside its dealerships, together with technician, service, elements, finance, advertising and marketing, and HR positions and is now extending its apprenticeship alternatives inside its buyer contact centre.
Collaborating intently with native faculties and faculties the place its Toyota and Lexus centres are located, apprentices on the dealership group profit from intensive 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 carry 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 also 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 akin to digital advertising and marketing.
Lucas Rydings, a digital advertising and marketing apprentice with Escalla, works inside Swansway’s advertising and marketing workforce, spending 5 weeks creating 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 completely different sides of digital advertising and marketing. Understanding the nuances of every position helps me chart my profession path.”
One instance is Sam Sales space who was promoted to the pinnacle of enterprise position at Crewe SEAT, showcasing the potential for profession development 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 nicely for work by immersing them in real-world eventualities and infrequently 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 staff to maximise their careers: “Sam is one instance of many who’ve taken this chance and run with it, usually with the start line of an apprenticeship.”
Hendy Group
Hendy Group additionally took the chance of Nationwide Apprenticeship Week to bestow the distinguished 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 varied roles, together with advertising and marketing, enterprise administration, and gross sales, alongside conventional technician apprenticeships. At the moment, 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 development. We search for apprentices who actually need a profession and we decide to offering that.”
“Apprentices carry 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 living proof 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 schooling was behind him.
Nevertheless, in a mere 4 years, Gary, is on the verge of finishing his Stage 3 Staff 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 position and future aspirations.
As Gary nears the end result of his apprenticeship, he now anticipates commencing his Stage 5 qualification, aiming to grow to be 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 chance to find out about cutting-edge Ferrari know-how
Ferrari North Europe’s funding in its apprenticeship amenities quantities to over £500,000 and features a dedication from the its UK sellers to tackle at the least one apprentice at some stage in the two/3-year apprentice programme.
A devoted workshop with over £20,000 price of instruments and gear is on the market for apprentices to obtain hands-on coaching for servicing and sustaining Ferrari automobiles.
Because the launch of the Ferrari North Europe Apprenticeship programme again in August 2011, over 120 folks have been efficiently educated 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 mandatory 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 offer 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 throughout the week.
Philpott burdened the Academy’s position 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 focus on the significance of technical coaching and apprenticeships. These college students will grow to be the industry-leaders of the long run 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 formidable Beyond100 technique.
Profitable candidates will be part of over 4,000 colleagues at its ‘Dream Manufacturing unit’ in Crewe, which is concentrating on the unique manufacturing of electrical autos by 2030.
The out there roles primarily emphasize electrical engineering, digital software program, and challenge administration, spanning from Stage 2 to Stage 6 throughout varied departments akin to manufacturing, engineering, high quality, buying, HR, IT, and finance.
Dr Karen Lange, member of the board for human sources, mentioned: “As we execute our Beyond100 technique, recent concepts, various 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 in addition entrusted with tasks from the outset, making you are feeling like a valued workforce member.”
Nissan
Nissan additionally opened the doorways of its technical centre to 150 native college students at a “Driving Innovation” workshop, which aimed to offer a glimpse into STEM careers and to nurture upcoming expertise.
Going down in Cranfield on February 5, the initiative aimed to encourage the following era of engineers by providing them an unique peek into Nissan’s Analysis and Improvement amenities and the method behind know-how improvement.
College students have been launched to the most recent 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 position of gearboxes and powertrains in automobile efficiency and gasoline effectivity.
Yuri Rodrigues, regional vice chairman, Nissan AMIEO, highlighted the importance of the day: “Recognising that range 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.”
