The_Assessor_Summer 2026 Web - Flipbook - Page 21
Secondly, we are directly addressing
the average technician age problem.
That means doing all we can to
attract and develop new talent. Our
apprenticeships programme and skills
bootcamps are cornerstones of this
strategy as we target an in昀氀ux of young
blood into the industry.
Thatcham is placing renewed focus on its Automotive Academy
to hone the skills of the repair sector’s future workforce.
This approach is urgently needed. With
data available from UK Government
showing apprentice starts down
6% year-on-year across automotive
occupations, and accident repair starts
down as much as 35% in the same
period, the industry must act now.
It isn’t just bene昀椀cial for this industry; it
forms part of efforts being made across
all sectors to tackle the ongoing issue
of NEETs – almost one million people
aged 16 to 24 are currently Not in
Education, Employment or Training3.
The Institute of the Motor Industry
supported Policy Connect’s new report
‘Earning or Learning: A New Agenda
for Youth NEET Reduction’, which
sets out a practical roadmap to bring
down NEET numbers and calls for
Skills England to reduce administrative
burdens on SMEs offering
apprenticeships and work experience.
The report also includes a case study
from charity AutoRaise which shows
how employer-led vocational pathways
help young people to re-engage in the
workforce, boosting their con昀椀dence
and development of technical skills.
This was made possible by offering
the chance to work alongside skilled
technicians to learn both technical
expertise and professional standards
from the outset, while also offering
clear pathways to enter the industry
and progress within it.
Damage limitation focus
When times are tough responding
positively is paramount. That is the
intention of new apprentice-focused
content for the Academy. It emphasises
our efforts to help create a more
sustainable workforce that is capable
and competent, galvanising the
long-term future of the repair sector.
megacasting structures in greater
volumes so in response we’ve launched
a new aluminium welding certi昀椀cation
which equips technicians with the
insight and skills needed to repair
these structures.
In addition, we are re昀氀ecting new and
revised apprenticeship standards.
To that end, we recently launched
the Accident Repair Technician
Apprenticeship.
The course aims to develop fully skilled
accident repair technicians who can
work con昀椀dently across a whole range
of collision repair tasks. Our expanding
apprenticeships are designed to
provide new talent to reduce the skills
de昀椀cit; Thatcham Research continues
to lean in to support a sustainable
repair market.
An exciting future ahead
The rolling nature of our Academy
programme, which is regularly
reviewed and optimised by our training
experts, means we can continue to
equip teams with skills needed right
now, while also devising ways to deal
with the next emerging challenge. Our
response is always linked directly to
the 昀椀ndings of Thatcham Research’s
ongoing Automotive Risk Intelligence
research outputs.
A chain of education providers is crucial
to support this strategy. Thatcham
Research is in constant dialogue with
Further Education colleges around the
country to share course content and
extend coverage, and we’re grateful for
their collaboration.
Demands on our industry show no sign
of dissipating. But that doesn’t mean
we can’t also see this era as a golden
chance to develop the technical
workforce of the future.
This is an exciting time to become a
junior member of a bodyshop team,
possessing the knowledge and skills
to safely repair vehicles of all types;
boosting both work昀氀ow ef昀椀ciency and
customer satisfaction in the process.
1
Thatcham Research reports critical
skills shortage in UK vehicle repair
sector
2
For Review – Understanding the UK
Accident & Repair Workforce
3
https://explore-education-statistics.
service.gov.uk/昀椀nd-statistics/
neet-statistics-annual-brief/2025
An exciting world of opportunity exists for young people
currently considering a career in accident repair.
Course content is shaped around
both traditional and emerging skills so
that every type of repair challenge is
covered.
For instance, we recognise the
signi昀椀cant change in ADAS 昀椀tted
to vehicles and have modernised
our ADAS training programme
accordingly. We have also started to
see vehicle manufacturers are adopting
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