Sector sees 63% apprenticeship drop
12 February 2021 
The first quarter of the 2020/21 academic year saw a 63% drop compared to the same period for 2019/20. With this week (8-14 February) having been National Apprenticeship Week, which ran with a theme of ‘Build the Future’, the IMI has been urging employers to re-engage with apprentice schemes.
As Steve Nash, CEO of the IMI explained, with less than a decade before the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles is banned, the sector urgently needs to build its pipeline of trained technicians: “It is hugely disappointing, albeit not very surprising, that automotive was one of the worst hit sectors for apprentice recruitment in 2020. This is a concern for a sector that faces one of its biggest challenges in a century as it prepares for the electric vehicle revolution.”
The most recent Department for Education figures demonstrate there were 1,575 automotive apprenticeships between August and October, the first quarter of the 2020/21 academic year. This was 63% lower than the first quarter of the 2019/20 academic year. Meanwhile. automotive apprenticeship starts experienced the fourth largest fall with only travel and tourism, manufacturing technologies and creative arts seeing bigger decreases.
“Vehicle maintenance and repair apprenticeship starts have fallen by 95% year on year and due to the high numbers usually undertaking this apprenticeship, the fall accounts for almost half of the fall in automotive apprenticeships overall. Another worrying trend is that the 25+ age group has seen the largest drop in apprenticeship starts in automotive at 77% year on year. Yet it is this age group that could bring immense value to the sector, bringing experience from other industries.
“The IMI’s analysis of the DfE data also shows that the proportion of apprenticeship starts supported by ASA levy funding fell by 76% year on year in the automotive sector .”
Steve added: “What particularly concerns us at the IMI is that there has been a significant drop in automotive firms accessing Apprentice Levy funds, yet this would provide vital support when business finances are under pressure. We would urge any employer unsure about what funding they can access to contact our support team who can provide guidance and support.”