IMI calls for urgent reforms to apprenticeship funding
The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) is calling for urgent reforms to apprenticeship funding after the Education Committee reported a six per cent fall in automotive apprenticeships last year.
Ahead of National Apprenticeship Week, the IMI has said reforms are critical to ensure a robust skills pipeline can meet the automotive sector’s future needs.
The IMI’s latest data shows that the automotive training workforce remains severely under-resourced, with just 7,372 automotive apprenticeship starts in 2023/24. This represents a six per cent drop on the previous year.
The IMI’s call comes as the Education Committee launches a new inquiry into how the entire further education system can better equip young people with skills and qualifications required to meet today’s technologies, such as ADAS, EVs and hydrogen vehicles.
It will examine apprenticeships, the role of Skills England, and reforms to T Levels and BTECs. It will also address workforce pressures, including the pay gap, lecturer shortages, and their impact on technical education quality.
However, the IMI believes there remains a lack of clarity as to what government will deliver and when, and has created a letter for members to members to raise concerns with their MPs.
