It’s official – apprenticeships in the automotive industry are good news for learners and businesses.  New research by The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) shows that apprentices in the automotive sector find the whole experience positive and believe it has been beneficial for their future career.

The research was carried out by BMG, on behalf of the IMI, with 249 apprentices interviewed.

• 76% said it was a positive experience and in addition, knowing what they know now, three-quarters of those surveyed would do an apprenticeship again and would definitely recommend it to a friend.
• 83% of those questioned found work immediately following their completion. 
• 45% of these found employment with the same employer they did their apprenticeship with.

Benefits to learners included: learning and developing job skills relating to current work or for future employment, improving job prospects and gaining valuable qualifications. 

204 employers were also questioned and the results show that apprenticeships are a positive force for business, as well as apprentices.

• Two-thirds of employers questioned agreed that hosting apprentices has had an overall positive effect on their business.
• 87% felt that apprenticeships gave them better skilled staff.
• 78% felt their business image was improved.
• 72% cited improved profitability
• At least 84% think that the qualifications apprentices achieved on the apprenticeship programme were very valuable to their business and that they were relevant to the automotive industry.

The IMI’s press release regarding the research went on to demonstrate how VT Training is working with businesses in order to ensure that challenges of the recession are not getting in the way of creating skilled staff for the automotive industry now and in the future.  The example cited was Guy Cutter, who was three months away from completing his apprenticeship when he was made redundant.  The IMI worked with VT Training to help find a new work placement for him.  VT Training was successful in matching him to a vacancy at Whittaker Fleet Care in Birmingham, and Guy says:

“I am very happy with my new placement at Whittaker Fleet Care and it’s a very friendly environment to work in.  If I hadn’t been made redundant I probably would have completed my apprenticeship training by now but I’m determined to finish the qualification in vehicle maintenance and repair.”

Commenting on the placement matching service, Emily Smith, Careers Assistant at the IMI commented:

“We believe wherever possible, apprentices should be given the opportunity to complete their qualifications and with the support of VT Training and Whittaker Fleet Care we were able to help Guy to continue with his apprenticeship and continue to work towards his qualification.  We are asking for the continued support of training providers and employers to help recognise the essential role that apprenticeships are playing in today’s business world, ensuring that the workforce has the skills it needs in order to remain competitive, even in difficult economic circumstances.”