A nationwide initiative to bring young people into motor retailing and solve the industry's growing skills crisis was launched by the Institute of the Motor Industry this week.

A brand new pre-apprenticeship qualification, available on the National Framework and aimed at 14-16 year olds, will be awarded exclusively by the Institute of the Motor Industry. The pre-apprenticeship covers light vehicle maintenance, body repair and vehicle refinishing.

This initiative, says the IMI, is designed to attract high calibre students into the motor industry as a preferred career option, leading to the completion of a Modern Apprenticeship.

A current shortfall of over 15,000 apprentices, an ageing workforce (20% of technicians are over 45), high levels of staff turnover (18% per annum on average), insufficient investment in employer training and massive technological advances in vehicles have all contributed to the worst ever skills shortage faced by the automotive sector, says the IMI.