The IMI Welcomes Prime Minister’s Ambition for Young People
But Calls for Urgent Apprenticeship Reform to Make it a Reality
(Copyright text IMI, reproduced with kind permission)
(Image Mr Nick Connor IMI Below)
The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) today welcomed the Prime Minister’s commitment to ensuring every young person can ‘go as far as their talent or effort will take them’. However, the voice of the automotive workforce believes that without meaningful reform of the apprenticeship system, the ambition risks falling short for industries that are at the heart of UK social and economic infrastructure – including the motor industry.
Nick Connor, CEO of the IMI said:
“The Prime Minister’s pledge to go ‘much further’ in investing in apprenticeships, Technical Excellence Colleges, and provision for young people ‘struggling to find a job’ is exactly what our sector needs. With the UK’s transition to electric vehicles accelerating, demand for skilled technicians has never been greater, yet apprenticeship starts in automotive have fallen by 30% over the past decade, leaving skills gaps in critical areas like EV maintenance, diagnostics, and emerging technologies. We also know that levy funds in automotive are underused in comparison to other sectors, limiting investment in training at the pace and scale needed.
“We share the Prime Minister’s conviction that every young person deserves a clear, high-quality pathway into work. The automotive industry offers exactly that - modern, technology-driven careers. But the system is not working for our sector. We need reform now.”
The IMI is calling on government to deliver apprenticeship reform that works for employers and learners alike. The IMI has set out clear priorities in its Apprenticeship and Skills Levy Reform statement:
- Safeguard quality and smooth delivery to enable apprenticeships to remain the gold standard for producing work-ready individuals, with robust, hands-on assessment models for safety-critical roles.
- Give employers genuine flexibility to invest levy funds where they see the greatest need, whether in apprenticeships, modular training, or continuous professional development.
- Make the system simple and accessible, particularly for SMEs, with clear rules, easy levy transfer processes, and practical guidance.
- Align national and regional delivery, embedding modular pathways and IMI standards into Skills England, LSIPs, and the Lifelong Learning Entitlement so that learning can scale effectively.
- Support the attraction of new talent into the sector through complementary campaigns and pathways that show automotive careers as visible, inclusive, and rewarding.
“Technical Excellence Colleges and a strengthened Skills England offer a genuine opportunity to embed automotive pathways in the national skills architecture,” added Nick Connor. “The IMI is keen to work with government, training providers, and the wider industry to ensure young people - and those looking to retrain - see automotive as a modern, sustainable, and rewarding career.”
The IMI’s full Apprenticeship and Skills Levy Reform policy statement
