The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI), backed by 10 employers, has written to the secretary of state for Work and Pensions (DWP), warning that current proposals fail to recognise the nature of automotive and other safety-critical apprenticeships, writes Peter Brown.
The IMI, supported by several heavy commercial vehicle partners, including DAF Trucks, parts supplier LKQ, Iveco dealer Hendy Group, and the Society of Operations Engineers (SOE), set out its concerns and recommendations in an open letter to the DWP’s secretary of state Pat McFadden MP.
“As we explain in our open letter to the Secretary of State, the IMI supports reform of the apprenticeship system where it strengthens delivery, improves outcomes and reflects the evolving needs of employers and learners,” explained the CEO of the IMI Nick Connor.
“And there’s no question we need urgent action; the automotive sector has seen a 30% reduction in apprentice starts over the last decade and remain below pre-pandemic levels.
“However, as the voice of the automotive workforce, we are compelled to highlight that the current proposals risk compromising the quality, integrity or safety of technical and safety critical occupations within the motor industry.
“And with Andy Burnham, who is increasingly looking likely to take the keys to Downing Street, saying in his speech on 29th June that the country needs a “complete rethink” on how to support younger people, with an education system based on parity between academic and technical, we are hopeful that there is scope for the current proposals to be reviewed.”
Proposals threaten to reduce the robustness of assessment, narrowing the depth of training required for a variety of roles and introducing inconsistent competence across the workforce.
In turn, it would increase safety risks for both technicians and the public and undermine employer confidence in the apprenticeship system.
“This is absolutely the wrong time for the automotive sector – and road users – for the apprenticeship process to be diluted,” he continued.
“As vehicles become more complex – from high-voltage electric systems to connected digital technologies and emerging hydrogen powertrains – the bar for technician competence must rise, not fall.
“Any reduction in the rigour of independent end-point assessment (EPA) will introduce inconsistent competence across the workforce, with direct consequences for the safety of technicians and the public.”
Both the IMI and employers want changes that maintain rigorous, independent end point assessment; protects the depth and quality of training required to achieve real occupational competence; ensures standards reflect the safety-critical nature of much of automotive work; and ensures employer led recommendations are consistently respected.
“Without safeguards in place to protect quality, public safety and employer confidence while also improving responsiveness and flexibility, workforce capability and safety are at risk,” he added.
Signatories include:
- Andy Hamilton, President & Executive Managing Director, LKQ
- Daksh Gupta, Group Chief Executive Officer, Huws Gray & Non-Executive Chair, Hendy Group
- Denis Houston, Director, Aftersales and ATV & Marine, Suzuki
- Emma Thompson, Chief Executive, SOE
- Graeme Potts, Chief Executive Officer, Eden Motor Group
- Jeremy Hicks, Retired Jaguar Land Rover Executive
- Linda Jackson, Retired Peugeot Executive
- Matt Coates, Training & Apprenticeships Manager, DAF Trucks
- Nick Connor, Chief Executive Officer, Institute of the Motor Industry
- Robert Forrester, Chief Executive Officer, Vertu
