Turning passion into a profession
- IMI to spearhead Careers Zone at the 2008 British International Motor Show - Promoting the UK motor industry as a progressive and exciting sector of employment is the aim of the Careers Zone at the British International Motor Show at Excel in London this summer.
Spearheaded by The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) in its role as the industry’s Sector Skills Council and professional association, and involving five other organisations involved in developing motor industry skills, the Careers Zone will offer advice and direction to those entering and progressing within the automotive sector.
Research has indicated that motor retail businesses in England have more than 11,000 vacancies, of which nearly half are for highly skilled technicians.* The findings also suggest that the automotive retail sector will need a further 120,000 more people over the next decade. The IMI recently pledged a 100% increase in the number of apprentices joining the retail motor industry over the next five years, a total of 40,000 new entrants, to help tackle skills shortages.
Supporting the IMI’s objective to boost apprentice numbers, David Lammy, Minister for Skills, recently commented: "Such a rapidly evolving sector as automotive retail demands a highly skilled workforce and I am delighted that the IMI's plans to bring more young people into the motor industry will complement the Government's pledge to increase apprenticeships across all industries."
Commenting on the industry’s efforts to promote the sector as career option, Steve Nash, Aftersales Director BMW UK Ltd and chairman of the IMI Executive Board said: “The motor industry is an evolving sector and to ensure it is viewed as a robust and respected industry in future, it needs to attract and retain highly capable people who have got what it takes to make a career in what is a highly credible and professional sector.”
Information and advice will be available at the Careers Zone stand, to youngsters considering an apprenticeship, as well as those already working wanting to improve their skills, or those from other sectors thinking about a career change.
The IMI will also be launching an innovative online careers portal at the show. This aims to provide sector specific career information including course searches, qualifications, occupational profiles and career pathways.
The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI), City & Guilds, the National Skills Academy for Manufacturing (NASM), ABC Awards, IMI Awards and the Learning Grid are sharing a 147 square metre stand in Hall S1 at the show. The Careers Zone will be the place to visit to get the best advice on the options and opportunities available.
For further information about the Motor Show, visit the web-site www.britishmotorshow.co.uk.