At its recent conference, the UK’s governing Labour party reaffirmed its drive to rebuild the country’s skills system, setting a new ambition for two-thirds of young people to reach higher-level learning by the time they’re 25 and committing to new investment in education. 

That debate has since been reignited by the Government’s announcement of new V Level qualifications, which is a fresh attempt to simplify vocational routes for 16- to 19-year-olds. 

All of this builds on the apprenticeship overhaul first outlined last year, including the forthcoming Growth & Skills Levy, new Foundation Apprenticeships for 16-year-olds, and a push toward shorter, modular courses that better fit employers’ realities.

The intention to reform what is, in essence, a broken system, is welcome. And the proposals look good on paper. 

But without wishing to appear too cynical, we’ve been here before and the momentum hasn’t materialised. 

Some of this has been the fault of policy and its implementation. Some of this also comes down to challenges that we as an industry need to address. 

Why the levy failed

The UK’s apprenticeship levy, introduced in 2017, never really worked for any industry, and it certainly didn't work for ours. 

The model was fundamentally misaligned with how independent garages and bodyshops operate. Most independents fell below the £3 million payroll threshold, so couldn't access levy funds anyway. 

The 20% off-the-job training requirement meant workshops already stretched thin couldn't afford to lose technicians for full days. The rigid framework made focused, modular upskilling nearly impossible.

Sadly, this saw an existing skills crisis deepen.

IMI data released last year revealed that less than 2% of the UK’s technicians are qualified to repair ADAS, while a more recent report found that just a quarter are certified safe to work on EVs. But even leaving these more modern skills aside, most workshops I speak to say they struggle to fill vacancies for any technician. 

Labour's proposed reforms include shorter modular courses, a £2,000 employer incentive and Foundation Apprenticeships for 16-year-olds to address some structural barriers. 

So far, so good. But as I mentioned, policy reform alone won't solve our talent shortage. We also need to confront some uncomfortable truths about how our sector is perceived.

The perception problem

Too many young people still picture our industry through an outdated lens: greasy hands, dirty overalls, cold workshops. 

Such views bear little resemblance to modern garages, where technicians work with diagnostic software, high-voltage systems, and sensors worth thousands. Today's vehicles are computers on wheels.

There's also a lingering stigma that apprenticeships are for those who weren’t ‘good enough’ to get into university. 

Germany's vocational education system is often held up as the gold standard, where technical training is genuinely prized. In the UK, it's too often seen as second-tier, hence the Government borrowing the same language of ‘gold standard’ to describe its latest apprenticeship push. That cultural shift needs to happen alongside any policy changes. And it needs to start with how we talk about the work.

We need to showcase the cutting-edge technology, problem-solving and genuine career progression, where an apprentice technician can legitimately dream of one day owning their own business. 

This goes hand in hand with making the industry more inclusive. Women remain drastically underrepresented despite bringing exactly the skills mix we need. 

Ultimately, a generation of digital natives should see that modern workshops would suit them perfectly.

The European challenge

This isn't uniquely British. Across Europe, every aftermarket faces the same tension of vehicle complexity accelerating faster than workforce capability can keep pace. 

Even Germany, with its admired dual education system, struggles to attract young people into automotive roles. In markets like the Netherlands, where EV adoption races ahead, the skills gap is still acute.

What’s consistent everywhere is the twin challenge of reskilling an existing and ageing workforce while replenishing the pipeline of new talent coming into the industry. 

The technician who's spent 20 years on combustion engines needs EV training. The bodyshop that's never calibrated ADAS needs equipment investment and expertise. 

Every market needs to convince 16-year-olds that automotive careers are exciting, well-paid, and future-proof.

What we're doing

At LKQ Europe, we've built the continent's leading training infrastructure precisely because our customers' success depends on their teams' capabilities.

LKQ Academy currently offers more than 200 courses across 14 languages, spanning topics from diagnostics, electrics and electronics to EV/hybrid systems and ADAS. Our concept network includes around 8,000 independent workshops affiliated across Europe, which gain access to shared expertise, digital tools, business support and training via LKQ. 

We are actively investing in modular and hybrid delivery models that are shorter, workshop-friendly programmes, including both remote learning modules, and hands-on practical sessions, to enable quicker upskilling in new vehicle technologies.

The real test

The latest proposal for V Levels is another sign that UK’s government recognises the need for coherent, employer-aligned pathways.

Labour's reforms could help so long as its rhetoric of ‘gold standard’ is backed by a clear definition of what this looks like in practice, alongside a well-funded route to deliver it.  

Its recently implemented £2,000 incentive might offset costs for smaller employers. Modular courses could finally fit business reality. Foundation Apprenticeships might catch young people earlier.

But the real test is whether momentum actually builds this time. Whether government delivers the support promised. Whether we as a sector make automotive careers genuinely aspirational. And whether we can move fast enough to match the pace at which vehicle technology is evolving.

The opportunities are enormous. From electric vehicles to connected cars and advanced materials, they all represent decades of work ahead. But only if we have the people to do it.

This is our moment. The policy environment may be shifting in our favour while the need has never been more urgent. Now we need to turn engagement into action.