Automotive industry sounds safety alarm over apprenticeship reforms

Open letter to Secretary of State for Work and Pensions signed by ten employers warns that current proposals ignore the nature of automotive and other safety-critical apprenticeships

In response to the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) apprenticeship reforms, the Institute of the Motor Industry (the IMI) and automotive employers have laid out their concerns and suggestions in an open letter to The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Pat McFadden MP.  

Nick Connor, CEO of the IMI commented: “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. 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.”

The IMI believes the proposals risk reducing the robustness of assessment, narrowing the depth of training required for a variety of roles and introducing inconsistent competence across the workforce. It believes this would increase safety risks for both technicians and the public, while also undermining 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,” added Nick Connor. “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.”

The letter also raises a fundamental governance concern: employer-led recommendations are being overridden or diluted during the approval and reform process. Employers designed the standards because they understand, better than anyone, what real-world competence looks like. Side-lining that expertise could destroy confidence in the entire system.

In the letter, the IMI and employers call for reform that:

• Maintains 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
• Ensures employer led recommendations are consistently respected 

Nick Connor concluded: “We strongly believe that the current reform proposals risk diluting apprenticeships at a time when they urgently need strengthening. 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. We are calling on the Secretary of State to listen to employers, protect quality, and get this reform right. We would welcome the opportunity to discuss the issues in greater detail on behalf of automotive employers, with the Secretary of State.  

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