The bodyshop industry is facing a well-publicised skills crisis and while apprenticeships are recognised as a key solution to long term workforce sustainability, the sector is losing too many promising young recruits before they qualify.
In 2022/23, the national apprenticeship achievement rate was just under 55%, meaning nearly half of apprentices either didn’t complete their course or failed their End-Point Assessment (EPA) — costing businesses time, money, and future leadership.
Why is this happening?
It’s not usually technical skills or training quality but instead what happens around the edges, and what is often overlooked. Studies show factors such as poor support, lack of meaningful skill development, weak mentorship, low morale, financial pressures like travel costs, mental wellbeing issues, generational misunderstandings, and unmet safeguarding obligations as reasons for early departure from the industry.
The cost to employers is real
Every early departure represents sunk costs in recruitment, onboarding and training, not to mention disruption to workflow and lost future productivity. Apprenticeships were designed to future-proof businesses and high dropout rates have the opposite effect.
Research shows that employers consistently cite time constraints and lack of internal capacity as key barriers to managing apprentices effectively.
The Solution = RETAIN: Outsourced apprentice support that works
RETAIN is a dedicated programme from Apprenticeship Central designed to solve these challenges head-on by offering comprehensive, non-vocational support to apprentices and their employers, dramatically increasing the chances of programme completion and long-term retention.
Here’s how:
- Safeguarding & Wellbeing ManagementRETAIN acts as a Designated Safeguarding Lead, handling all compliance and providing confidential, expert support to apprentices.
- Mentorship & Relationship BuildingActing as a trusted third party between employers, the apprentice and training provider to resolve issues before they escalate.
- Employer Time SavingsMentoring, tracking, safeguarding and support is covered leaving employers to focus on running their business.
The Automotive sector must act now
According to the IMI, job vacancy rates in the UK automotive sector are at a two-decade high, and apprenticeship starts are still 31% behind pre-pandemic levels. Businesses can’t afford to lose the apprentices they do have.
Partnering with RETAIN means:
- Reduced dropout rates
- Improved morale and workplace culture
- Higher completion and retention
- Lower management burden
- A sustainable pipeline of skilled technicians
With RETAIN, we don’t just find you apprentices — we keep them.
Contact the team today to find out how RETAIN can support your workforce strategy:
E: enquire@apprenticeship-central.co.uk
W: www.apprenticeship-central.co.uk
M: 07496 571570
