Autotech Academy tackles 51,000 technicians skills gap

Autotech Academy is helping to fight the skills gap by placing newly qualified technicians in their first job roles.

According to the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI), the automotive sector could be facing a shortage of 51,000 technicians by 2030.

Autotech Academy believes one of the key issues is finding a suitable first job, which it says prevents new talent from finding fulfilling careers and can lead to them leaving the industry.

Through its paid internship programme, it offers newly qualified automotive students an opportunity to gain vital industry experience by placing them with appropriate employers for six or 12-month periods. Apart from providing them with a complete toolkit and uniform, the internship includes through interviews and evaluations to match the right intern with the right business.

Autotech Academy tackles 51,000 skills gap

To date, Autotech Academy has placed almost 400 interns into the industry, with 95% going on to secure permanent employment once completing the programme. Currently there are more than 1,000 graduates signed up to the programme.

James Mackay, managing director of Autotech Academy, said: “

The automotive industry is at a crossroads. Without immediate action to integrate new talent, we risk deepening the skills shortage that threatens the entire sector. Our internship solution not only provides these newly qualified automotive students with essential experience but also offers employers a seamless way to assess and cultivate new talent. It’s a win-win solution that we believe can change the trajectory of the industry.”

It is estimated there are now between 3,000 and 9,000 vacancies for technicians in the UK.

Autotech Academy is urging the industry to take advantage of its intern programme to addresses this gap and ensure newly-qualified students are not lost to other sectors due to a lack of initial opportunities.