The Prime Minister’s new ambition to see two-thirds of young people in the UK go on to university, technical education, or a ‘gold-standard apprenticeship’ by age 25 has been broadly welcomed by the automotive sector but industry leaders are warning that real reform and investment must follow if the plan is to deliver lasting change.
Announced by Keir Starmer at the Labour Party conference last week, the new target replaces Tony Blair’s 1999 goal of getting 50% of young people into university.
It marks a significant shift in political tone, placing skills training and technical routes on an equal footing with traditional degrees.
The government says it wants at least 10% of young people to pursue higher-level technical courses or apprenticeships by 2040, almost double current participation rates.
The move has been praised by education leaders and industry bodies as a long-overdue recognition of the UK’s need for practical, job-linked learning.
What it means
For independent garages, the policy shift could bring long-term benefits, if it results in better-resourced apprenticeships and greater access to skilled young technicians.
Many garage owners already face challenges recruiting qualified staff, particularly those with experience in EV and hybrid systems, diagnostics, and calibration technologies.
A renewed national focus on technical education could help fill that gap but only if employers can access funding easily and see genuine value from apprenticeship schemes.
Garage Matters will be watching closely to see how the government defines and funds its “gold-standard” approach, and whether it truly delivers the skilled workforce the aftermarket urgently needs.
Responding to the announcement, Nick Connor, CEO of the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI), said the change in direction was “welcome” but warned that ambition alone is not enough.
“Now is the time for change,” he said. “The shift away from the outdated 50% university target towards building a future workforce based on apprenticeships and technical education is welcome, but far more is needed.
“The IMI has long argued that apprenticeships and technical education should stand alongside university as mainstream higher-level learning, equal in status and opportunity to degrees.
“We welcome the government’s recognition of this but ‘gold-standard apprenticeships’ must mean more than rhetoric.”
The IMI has repeatedly highlighted the skills crisis facing the UK automotive sector.
With the rapid transition to electric vehicles (EVs), increasing adoption of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), and growing demand for digital and data expertise, the sector is struggling to recruit and retain the skilled technicians it needs.
“The automotive sector is already at a tipping point,” Nick warned. “The skills gap is holding back productivity, weakening the economy, and threatening road safety.
To truly widen access, improve retention, and secure the sector’s future, government and industry must agree on what a true gold standard looks like and that must happen now.”
The Prime Minister’s announcement has also been welcomed by the Association of Colleges and MAKE UK, which both say the shift gives technical education “equal value” to university.
However, they stress that sustained funding for colleges and training providers is vital to make the ambition achievable.
Under successive governments, further education colleges have received less funding than schools and universities, despite being central to delivering apprenticeships and higher technical qualifications.
Without investment, many in the industry fear that the new targets will struggle to translate into practical opportunity.
🗣️ Do you believe “gold-standard apprenticeships” can help close the skills gap in our trade? We’d love to hear your perspective. Share your comments below.
2 comments
Apprenticeships are the lifeblood of the independent aftermarket, but they’ve been undervalued for too long. If this policy leads to genuine reform, that’s simpler funding, better training standards, and recognition that technical excellence is every bit as valuable as a degree, it could well prove to be a turning point for the industry.
There’s a huge problem with potential students simply not attaining the required GCSE level. A lot of students we look at are neurodivergent and are not able to attain those levels due to learning needs.
We’ve had a battle to get a student onto the course he needs – due to GCSE grades not being sufficient and the college initially ignoring the government’s new funding guidelines.
How many potential apprentices are we missing out on due to English and Maths? What’s the solution when we need these “unicorn” employees who are great at practical tasks, can read complex information and handle the maths required to do the job. And they also need to be “work ready” and understand how employment works. It’s a riddle that we’re not able to fully unpick.