Swindon car manufacturers Honda and BMW are to work with the Government to boost skills across the sector and inspire the next generation of vehicle makers.
Business Secretary Vince Cable announced funding of £11.3m earlier this week to kick start the scheme and go alongside a £2.8m cash investment and £16.4m in-kind contributions from industry. 
The project, developed through the Automotive Council’s Business Environment and Skills Group, brings together major automotive businesses to ensure future skills needs are met for UK vehicle manufacturers and supply chain companies.
Dr Cable, pictured, said: “This investment puts our automotive sector in the driving seat to design the skills our manufacturing companies need. There is a risk that without adequate investment in skills, the industry will run into serious skills bottlenecks.
“Through our industrial strategy we are working in partnership with the automotive sector as it goes from strength to strength. We are providing businesses with the confidence to invest and to create high skilled jobs.
“Employment in the automotive industry is set to grow in the coming years, with multi-billion pound investments taking hold and production volumes on course for record levels. With developments such as connectivity and advanced manufacturing taking the sector into exciting new territory, recruitment is a major challenge facing the industry.”
Both Honda, which makes cars and engines at its giant plant at South Marston, and BMW, whose pressings plant at Stratton produces panels for the Mini, have invested heavily in skills develop in recent years, despite tough times and challenging markets for the auto sector.
Earlier this month BMW announced it is to recruit five more apprentices for its Swindon plant as part of a package across its three UK production sites.
Managing director of its Swindon and Oxford plants, Frank Bachmann, said at the time: “Investment in young people is a key part of our development strategy for the plants and it is vital that we attract the very best young talent to ensure the business has the right skills for the future.”
Manufacturers taking part in the new Government-backed scheme will work together to identify and meet the skills needs for their current and future workforces, ensuring the UK automotive industry is in pole position. Young people will also gain first-hand experience of the industry in action, inspiring future generations of engineers and technicians.
Jo Lopes, Chair of the Automotive Industrial Partnership and Head of Technical Excellence, Jaguar Land Rover, said:
The Automotive Industrial Partnership brings together industry employers on an unprecedented scale. By working collaboratively and taking an innovative and sector-wide approach, we are ensuring that the UK’s automotive sector can grow and retain the skills talent that is so vital for the industry’s continued success.
Other UK car manufacturers taking part include Aston Martin, Bentley, Ford, General Motors, GKN, Jaguar Land Rover, Nissan and Toyota.
They will work with the Government, SEMTA (the Sector Skills Council for the UK’s engineering advanced sectors) and industry body the SMMT through the Automotive Council to boost workforce skills, now and for the long term.
This includes creating an industry standard “jobs framework” and identifying employment “hot spots”, to encourage more young people into automotive manufacturing careers and to deliver clear development pathways to help them to progress.
Initiatives include:
- giving 4,500 9 year-olds an experience of working in the industry through a one day production simulation
- taking on 960 11 to 16 year-old Industrial Cadets, to develop vital industry skills in team working, communications and problem solving over a 6 day programme
- providing a route to work for 225 19 plus year-olds, with a 15 day programme offering vocational training and simulated work activities designed by their potential future employers. Assessing functional and employability skills will lead to further work experience at a host company, helping young people with little or no workplace experience and vocational skills on a route to possible future apprenticeships
Existing employees at all levels will also benefit from industry collaboration to strengthen their technical, management and leadership skills. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) will be supported in gaining access to industry standard skills development. While talented, qualified engineers from other professions, such as the Armed Forces, will be able to train to apply their knowledge and skills in the automotive industry.
