The automotive skills shortage continues to dominate industry discussion, but are we overlooking the number of young people who actively want to build careers in the sector?
A recent Garage Wire interview with Telford College Automotive Assessor Robert Adams, which referenced Autotech Academy’s own experience of seeing more women pursuing automotive careers, highlighted an important point: interest in becoming a technician is there. The challenge is creating the opportunities that turn that interest into sustainable careers.
Robert confirmed that he is also seeing more female candidates entering the pipeline and, importantly, increasing recognition from employers that an ageing technician workforce makes succession planning essential.
This strongly reflects what we see at Autotech Academy.
Every year, talented students complete automotive qualifications but can struggle to secure their first role because employers understandably want workshop experience. Without an opportunity to gain that experience, the industry risks losing capable, enthusiastic people at the very point we need them most.
Autotech Academy was created to bridge this gap. Through our paid internship programme, newly qualified Level 2 and 3 automotive students gain structured, supported experience within commercial workshops, while employers have a low-risk route to identify and develop future talent.
As the technician role evolves through EVs, ADAS, diagnostics and increasingly sophisticated vehicle technology, we also have an opportunity to attract a broader and more diverse generation into the sector.
Solving the skills shortage cannot be about competing for the same experienced technicians. We need to invest in the people already trying to enter our industry and give them the opportunity to build their careers.
The talent is there. We need to make sure it isn’t lost between the classroom and the workshop.
