One of my personal highlights at SMMT is our annual Apprentice Showcase, this year held in the House of Lords as part of National Apprenticeship Week, providing an opportunity for parliamentarians to hear first-hand from apprentices in industry. As with previous years, it was good to have representation again from commercial vehicle manufacturers who had representatives covering a number of roles in light and heavy vehicles, as well as apprentices from a major bus operator.
The Showcase was hosted by Lord Fox, Co-Vice Chair of the All-Party Motor Group, and also welcomed speeches from Chris McDonald MP,Minister for Industry in the Department for Business and Trade, and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero – followed by inspiring speeches from several apprentices sharing the exciting opportunities they have enjoyed to date.
To mark National Apprenticeship Week, SMMT published the results of a new survey of leading manufacturers, R&D specialists and aftermarket companies – representing 75% of the UK’s automotive manufacturing workforce – showing a sharp rise in sector training activity. Apprenticeships increased by 33% in the last academic year, with new starters up 28%. In total, 1,699 people began apprenticeships while 1,824 additional courses were delivered to upskill existing employees.
This momentum reflects the industry’s urgent need to gain new technical capabilities. By 2035, 61% of all current automotive roles are expected to require new skills, such as high‑voltage systems, battery technology, and digital disciplines such as coding, data analytics and artificial intelligence.
The transition is supported by significant public and private investment, including government’s £4 billion DRIVE35 programme, running to 2035, alongside more than £1 billion of industry investment announced last year. With all new vans set to be zero emission within the next decade, and heavy vehicles following soon after, the sector requires a re‑equipped workforce able to design, engineer, manufacture and maintain next‑generation vehicles.
SMMT’s latest UK Automotive Industry Career Guide highlights the broad opportunities already available for career starters, changers and returners. Industry and government are also working together through Skills England and the new Growth & Skills Levy to build a strong skills pipeline. New flexibilities from April allowing short modular training will help, particularly SMEs with smaller workforces and tighter margins, ensuring wider access to high‑quality courses across the country.
