Despite this positive momentum, The Motor Ombudsman’s latest report highlights a worrying challenge—41% of garages surveyed identified a lack of available apprentices as one of their biggest staffing issues last year. This disconnect raises a crucial question: How do we ensure more young people see the automotive industry as an exciting and viable career path?

 

Work Experience: The Spark That Ignites Careers

For many school leavers, deciding on a career path is a daunting challenge. The choices they make today—whether to pursue apprenticeships, university, or other routes—will shape their futures. Yet, many students (and their parents) still perceive the automotive industry through an outdated lens—one that doesn’t reflect the high-tech, innovative, and rewarding careers the sector offers today.

This is why work experience is vital. By providing hands-on exposure, work placements offer young people a real-world glimpse into the industry—allowing them to see firsthand the skills, technologies, and career possibilities available. Without that spark of inspiration, many may never consider a future in automotive.

 

The Automotive Work Experience (AWE) Programme: A Game-Changer

Recognising the urgency of addressing skills shortages—currently estimated at 18,000 vacancies across the industry—the School of Thought Automotive, The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI), and Autotech Academy have joined forces to launch the Automotive Work Experience (AWE) Programme.

This initiative is designed to promote and enable structured work experience across the industry, helping businesses engage with the next generation of talent while tackling the sector’s ongoing recruitment challenges.

A key part of this initiative is a dedicated online portal, hosted by School of Thought Automotive.

This platform allows businesses to pledge and tailor work experience placements based on their needs, whether it’s a one-day insight visit, a week-long placement, or even a few hours per week. By making opportunities more accessible and flexible, businesses can actively contribute to shaping the future workforce.

 

Why Work Experience Matters for the Industry’s Future

Offering work experience not only helps bridge the skills gap but also secures a stronger, more sustainable talent pipeline. For students, these placements provide invaluable insight at a critical decision-making stage in their education, helping them choose the right career path. Seeing a workshop in action, understanding the latest vehicle technology, and interacting with professionals already in the field can be transformational in shaping their ambitions.

However, for this to be truly effective, these opportunities must be inclusive and widely available. The industry must work together to ensure that young people from all backgrounds have access to meaningful work experience that opens doors and expands their career possibilities.

 

An Open Call to Automotive Employers

This National Apprenticeship Week, the School of Thought Automotive is encouraging automotive businesses to step forward and pledge work experience placements, in a bid to actively invest in the long-term success of the sector. Changing perceptions, igniting ambition, and nurturing new talent are all critical to ensuring a thriving future for the automotive industry.

Sign up here today to pledge work experience for at least one young person in 2025.