Funding boost puts automotive skills on track

To move the initiative forward business secretary Vince Cable has announced £11.3m of government funding alongside a £2.8m investment and £16.4m in-kind contributions from industry.

The project, developed through the Automotive Council’s Business Environment and Skills Group, brings together automotive businesses to ensure future skills needs are met for UK vehicle manufacturers and supply chain companies. It follows a successful bid from the group for funding through the government’s Employer Ownership Pilot, a £340m competitive fund that invited employers to tell the government how they would better use public investment, alongside their own, to invest in the skills.

In a statement, business secretary Vince Cable said: ‘Employment in the automotive industry is set to grow in the coming years, with multi-billion pound investments taking hold and production volumes on course for record levels.

‘With developments such as connectivity and advanced manufacturing taking the sector into exciting new territory, recruitment is a major challenge facing the industry.’