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In response to the automotive sector's ongoing skills shortage, dealership groups nationwide are increasingly turning to Autotech Academy’s internship initiative, a pioneering solution which is bridging the gap between education and employment for newly qualified vehicle technicians.
Over the past three years, more than 200 newly qualified technicians have found employment within dealership sites after completing a 6-12 month internship through Autotech Academy.
According to the National Franchise Dealers Association, a significant 82% of dealers report technician roles as the most severely impacted by the skills shortage, underscoring the need for creative solutions to attract and retain a new generation of talent.
Autotech Academy’s paid internship initiative offers young people, recently qualified with an automotive qualification, a crucial first step on the motor industry career ladder, enabling dealerships to cultivate talent from the ground up and ensure a sustainable, skilled workforce.
Interns are equipped with a comprehensive tool kit and uniform to guarantee they are ready to work from day one and Autotech Academy also manages the initial stages, including engaging and screening potential interns to ensure they are prepared which saves dealerships valuable time and resources.
This structured approach also allows businesses a chance to evaluate interns' skills and suitability before extending permanent employment, creating a risk-free pathway to develop new talent.
Leading motor brand, Toyota has embraced this recruitment model, tailoring the Autotech Academy offering to meet their specific training and development goals along with dealership sites from brands including BMW, Ford, Renault, and Jaguar Land Rover. The ability to customise the initiative is enabling these sites to broaden the skills pool and secure a steady influx of brand-loyal talent.
With more than 90% of interns being offered permanent positions post-internship, the effectiveness of this program in preparing candidates for the industry's demands is evident.
Currently, over 1,000 newly qualified automotive students are eager to explore these opportunities, presenting the automotive industry with a chance to benefit significantly from this pioneering recruitment strategy.
“Our internship initiative not only addresses the industry's skills shortage but also provides dealerships with a reliable, risk-free way to grow their own talent,” comments James Mackay, Managing Director of Autotech Academy.
“We have been delighted by the industry's confidence in our approach, and have worked strategically with dealer groups, to customise our offering and meet their exact needs. While it's great that 200 interns have been placed, there are still many newly qualified automotive students waiting for job opportunities and the industry cannot afford to lose them.
We encourage more dealerships and independent businesses to get on board and take advantage of this cost-effective and risk-free solution to growing the industry’s talent pool."
For more information visit www.autotechacademy.co.uk