As we reach the midpoint of National Apprenticeship Week 2025, the National Franchised Dealer Association’s employment initiative, Drive My Career (DMC), continues to celebrate with its #DriveMyApprenticeship campaign. This initiative aims to debunk common misconceptions about apprenticeships while highlighting the wide range of opportunities available within the automotive sector.
Sue Robinson, Chief Executive of the National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA), commented:
“It is highly encouraging to see the strong participation of numerous franchised retailers in both Drive My Career and National Apprenticeship Week. This collective effort highlights our members’ ongoing dedication to engaging young talent in the automotive industry and showcasing the wide range of career opportunities available.
“Through its employment initiative, Drive My Career, NFDA is proud to support National Apprenticeship Week and recognise the invaluable contributions of apprentices across the sector. Looking ahead, Drive My Career will continue to raise awareness of career prospects within the industry and provide ongoing support to its members. NFDA thanks all members for their commitment to making the automotive sector a dynamic and rewarding place to work.
“Notably, yesterday, the Government announced new flexibilities to apprenticeships, including reducing the minimum duration from 12 to 8 months starting next academic year [1]. In practice, this change should help address skills shortages in the automotive sector more quickly. However, the Government appears to have deviated from its pledge to allow businesses to allocate up to 50% of their Apprenticeship Levy for broader training. NFDA urges collaboration to create a Levy that effectively supports business needs, particularly in training electric vehicle technicians, as the ZEV mandate increases to 28% this year.”
