Skills – and their shortages – are high on employers’ agendas. Last year’s driver shortage was perhaps the most visible manifestation. However, across the sector, attracting new technical talent is a far more intractable problem.
The automotive industry, particularly the commercial vehicle sector, has always struggled, primarily due to image issues. The sector has done a lot of work to change this and largely succeeded. But the wider perception of apprenticeships and government focus on universities is proving difficult to overcome.
As a result, the news that the Department for Education (DfE) has launched a consultation on plans to reform post-16 qualifications at Level 2 and below, is welcome.
The consultation is aimed to create a clearer pathway for people when starting their careers. This will form the next step of the government’s transformation of technical education, following the introduction of T-Levels and the establishment of 21 Institutes of Technologies. The consultation follows the launch of a Department for Transport (DfT) consultation into the Transport Labour Market and Skills.
In separate news, in the run up to SMMT Electrified, SMMT is partnering with Germany Trade and Invest, The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, and the Investment Office of The Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye.
Please join our webinar programme to hear from companies, and about electrification opportunities, in Germany, Illinois and Türkiye. Click here for agendas, speaker profiles and registration links.
