IMI launches new manifesto to drive expertise revolution

The Institute of the Motor Trade (IMI) has unveiled its Driving the Way forward for Automotive Professionals manifesto, setting out a roadmap to sort out the UK’s worsening expertise disaster and make sure the sector stays aggressive, future-proof and globally revered.

With the UK automotive trade using 866,000 individuals and contributing £37 billion in Gross Worth Added (GVA) in 2023, the IMI warns that just about 20% of the present workforce – round 144,000 roles – will want changing by 2032 on account of retirement.

Mixed with 17,000 present vacancies, the abilities shortfall poses a big menace to the trade’s means to innovate and develop.

“It is a essential second for the automotive sector,” mentioned Hayley Pells, coverage lead on the IMI. “If we’re going to maintain tempo with change and stay aggressive, we should act now to shut the abilities hole. Our manifesto lays out how we are able to herald new expertise, help in the present day’s workforce, and put together for the applied sciences of tomorrow.”

The IMI’s manifesto is constructed on three central pillars:

• Appeal to and recruit expertise: By means of initiatives like There’s Extra to Motor, the IMI goals to enhance public perceptions of automotive careers and simplify entry to apprenticeships and coaching. The organisation can be pushing for higher integration between training and employment techniques to open up extra versatile, related profession pathways.
• Retain and progress expertise: The IMI is dedicated to upskilling the present workforce and supporting profession development through skilled recognition schemes just like the IMI Skilled Register and IMI TechSafe. This consists of selling variety within the trade and advocating for funding help.
• Put together for future expertise: With the fast shift towards electrification and linked automobile applied sciences, the IMI will use its Insights by IMI sequence and proactive data-led forecasting to make sure coaching stays forward of trade tendencies.

The manifesto additionally requires stronger collaboration between employers, authorities and training to ship systemic change. Particularly, the IMI is urging the federal government to prioritise the automotive sector in its industrial technique by committing to regulatory reform, R&D funding, and the supply of a long-promised devoted automotive technique.