New research highlights the benefits of automotive apprenticeships
In contrast to the experiences encountered by many of the contestants on the television programme ‘The Apprentice’, research* released today (28 April 2009) from The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) shows that apprentices in the automotive sector actually find the whole experience positive and believe it has been beneficial for their future career.
Research commissioned on behalf of the IMI by BMG show that of the 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.
The research found that the benefits of undertaking an apprenticeship included learning and developing job skills relating to current work or for future employment, improving job prospects and gaining valuable qualifications. Employment prospects also improved following a successful completion of an apprenticeship with 83% of those questioned finding work immediately following their completion. 45% of these found employment with the same employer they did their apprenticeship with.
The IMI highlighted the benefits of apprenticeships for businesses in the automotive sector during the recent National Apprenticeship Week and continues to encourage employers to look at the apprenticeship as a means of investing in long term skills development. The new research also highlights how businesses in the sector view apprenticeships with two-thirds of the 204 employers questioned agreeing that hosting apprentices has had an overall positive effect on their business.
Employers felt that apprenticeships gave them better skilled staff (87%), improved their business image (78%) and improved profitability (72%). 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.
However, the current economic climate is, of course, having widespread effects on many sectors of employment and the automotive businesses sampled in the research were no exception. 37% of businesses surveyed said that they were unlikely to take on an apprentice in the next twelve months mainly due to the economic challenges facing the sector. The careers team at the IMI has been working hard with training providers and employers to try to help apprentices in our sector who have been facing redundancies.
An example of one apprentice helped through redundancy by the IMI is Guy Cutter. Guy was three months away from completing his apprenticeship when unfortunately he was made redundant. The IMI worked with independent training provider, 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. 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:
“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.”
For further information and assistance, whether you are an apprentice, employer or training provider, please contact the careers team at the IMI on 01992 511521 or email [email protected]