The motor industry in the UK is thriving. Britain is now a net exporter of cars for the first time since the 1970s.
This constituency is home to three luxury British car brands. Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) – the UK’s largest automotive manufacturing business – is built around two iconic British car brands; and Aston Martin has its HQ and home of sports car production here.
The UK’s automotive industry boasts not only a hugely successful manufacturing sector, but also a prosperous and growing retail and repair sector. No less than 475,000 people in the UK are employed in the wholesale and retail trade and repair sector of motor vehicles and motorcycles – with the industry as a whole (including manufacturing) employing around 799,000.
Last Friday, I cut the ribbon at the official opening of the RMI Academy of Automotive Skills in Southam. The brand new, state of the art training facility has been set up by the Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMI) and will act as a leading industry resource for MOT tester training.
The RMI developed the RMI Academy of Automotive Skills following the new training requirements for MOT testers and a number of members reporting a skills shortage in the industry, notably surrounding MOTs. This skills shortage was most affected by the lack of ‘top-up’ training courses offered to qualified technicians.
The RMI is an active supporter of apprenticeships – which the government remains committed to developing. The RMI is already participating in the Automotive Apprenticeship Trailblazer and is currently developing the Motorcycle Technician Trailblazer Apprenticeship.
Of course, it is essential that once an apprentice completes their formal training, there is continued training available to ensure that technicians remain ‘up to date’ and qualified to handle the continuous changes in industry regulation, requirements and technological development. That is where this training centre comes in.
I am thrilled that the RMI chose to locate the centre – which is is available to all MOT garages in the motor trade – in Southam. It is a fantastic resource and a valuable asset for our automotive workers of the present and future.