Car manufacturers in the UK will be opening their doors to school children and students in October as part of See Inside Manufacturing in order to attract young talent into the automotive industry.

Bentley, Mini, Ford, General Motors UK, Honda, Jaguar, Land Rover, Nissan and Toyota will all be taking part in the initiative.

In June there will be a number of co-ordinated regional events to promote the open days through teachers and careers advisers.

Business Secretary Vince Cable said: “Young people buy and use the latest gadgets and products but we also need them to think how exciting it could be to design, engineer or make them too.

“We want them to See Inside Manufacturing and inspire a new generation of engineers and scientists to create a whole range of new iconic UK based products that are exported worldwide.”

See Inside Manufacturing will focus on young people to encourage take up of science, technology engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects as well as undergraduates considering their future career options.

All the automotive activities are being co-ordinated by the joint industry/government Automotive Council.

Paul Everitt, SMMT chief executive, said: “The See Inside Manufacturing initiative is a great opportunity to raise awareness of the range of exciting careers available in the UK automotive industry.

"Being part of a global industry, particularly one that is leading the transition to low carbon, is incredibly rewarding. Despite difficult economic conditions, automotive companies are looking to recruit at all levels and the See Inside Manufacturing programme will help give parents, teachers and students the chance to learn more about the industry and the opportunities on offer.”