CGC Oakgrove Ebook 3.0

Motor Industry

Sector Outlook The motor industry in the UK employs over 737,000 people and thousands more apprentices. Within the sector there are many different career pathways that you can follow including design, engineering, supplies, manufacturing, retail and after sales care. Most job opportunities can be found in garages, shops, dealerships and offices. Most technical staff work 40 hours per week from Monday to Saturday and this may include shift patterns. Despite the recession the industry has continued to invest in training young people and is committed to recruiting talented individuals. The Automotive Council is actively encouraging young people to consider a career in the automotive industry and the Government is planning to increase the number of apprenticeships by 2020. National initiatives such as ‘Make it in Great Britain’ and ‘See Inside Manufacturing’ are also aiming to change out-dated opinions about manufacturing and provide an insight into some of the country’s world-class automotive facilities. Watch out for such initiatives in your local area. Many companies will be opening their doors to students, parents and teachers in order to raise awareness of the range of career opportunities available within the sector. The top five UK automotive manufacturing employers include JLR, Ford, the BMW Group, Nissan and Toyota. Other key employers include Alexander Dennis, Aston Martin, Bentley, Caterham, Cummins, Dennis Eagle, Euromotive, Jaguar, John Dennis Coachbuilders, Land Rover, Leyland Trucks and Land Rover among others. Keep an eye open for technician level work with electric vehicles as new technology is high on the Government’s agenda. Remember that job opportunities are also available in other branches of the sector, for example, at any one time there are 18,000 apprentices working in automotive retail. To improve your chances of finding work it’s worth knowing that employers in the industry are looking for people who can communicate well with others, work as part of a team, show initiative and solve problems. You will also need to keep up to date with developments in technology and above all have a passion for the motor industry.