Career move - go to the Motor Show

Car aficionados will probably already be planning to visit the British Motor Show, held in London at the ExCel centre from July 23rd until August 3rd, but they might be advised to pack their CVs too.

The motor industry anticipates that it currently has 11,000 vacancies for skilled technicians and predicts that 120,000 jobs will be available over the next decade. Therefore the British Motor Show will feature a ‘Career Zone’ to attract those who love cars into working with them too.

David Lammy, Minister for Skills, recently commented: "Such a rapidly evolving sector as automotive retail demands a highly skilled workforce and I am delighted that the IMI [Institute of the Motor Industries]’s plans to bring more young people into the motor industry will complement the government’s pledge to increase apprenticeships across all industries."

Steve Nash, aftersales director BMW UK Ltd and chairman of the IMI Executive Board, said: "The motor industry is an evolving sector and to ensure it is viewed as a robust and respected industry in future, it needs to attract and retain highly capable people who have got what it takes to make a career in what is a highly credible and professional sector. Information and advice will be available at the Careers Zone stand, to youngsters considering an apprenticeship, as well as those already working wanting to improve their skills, or those from other sectors thinking about a career change."

A computerised career progression route will also be able to enter people’s existing skills and plot routes that they could take to pursue a lifetime’s ambitions.