The automotive manufacturing industry is part of the engineering manufacturing, science and mathematics sector, represented by Semta Sector Skills Council. This sector also includes the following industries: electronics and electrical equipment manufacture; mechanical equipment manufacture; metals; transport equipment manufacture, including marine and aerospace; and science. Across the sector as a whole, the workforce comprises approximately 2 million people, working across around 75,000 companies. UK engineering and science turnover is over £250 billion. British engineering exports amount to 37% of total UK exports of goods and services. The UK is Europe’s top location for investment in pharmaceutical and biotechnology research and development.
The UK automotive manufacturing industry covers a range of companies involved in manufacturing of:
- whole vehicles (such as cars, commercial vehicles, buses and coaches)
- bodies (coachwork) for motor vehicles
- engines and components (such as exhausts, wheels, gear boxes, safety belts and airbags).
It also includes companies involved in the manufacture of trailers, motor sport related vehicles, fire engines, buses, coaches, vans and lorries.
Key facts:
- There are an estimated 154,400 people employed in the automotive manufacturing industry, across 3,220 workplaces in Great Britain.
- The UK is a source of manufacturing sites for a number of well known international car manufacturers.
- 96% of the workforce is full-time.
- In engineering, an estimated 6% of the workforce is self-employed.
Jobs in the industry range from: manufacturing production manager, design engineer, electronics engineer, mechanical engineer, production engineer, quality control inspector, engineering maintenance technician, laboratory technician, engineering craft machinist, fitter, sheet metal worker, welder, assembler, motor vehicle manufacturing operative, labourers in process and plant operations.
National and regional data
The greatest concentrations of employment in the automotive industry within the UK are in the West Midlands and the North West of England.
East Midlands – There are an estimated 13,300 employees in the regional workforce, in around 340 companies. There is a total requirement of 2,400 employees needed in the region between 2007 and 2014. Skills gaps in the region include: Materials Requirement Planning (MRP11); assembly line/production robotics; and welding skills. 27% of the workforce is employed as assemblers. Engineering employment is geographically concentrated around Derby City, Leicester City, South Derbyshire, Charnwood, Hinckley and Bosworth and Ashfield.
East of England – There are an estimated 13,300 employees in the regional workforce, in around 380 companies. There is a total requirement of 3,880 employees needed in the region between 2007 and 2014. Skills gaps in the region include: Materials Requirement Planning (MRP11); CNC machine operation; and coach building. 27% of the workforce is employed as assemblers. Engineering employment is geographically concentrated around Peterborough, Huntingdonshire, South Cambridgeshire, Luton and Basildon.
London – There are an estimated 5,800 employees in the regional workforce, in around 160 companies. There is a total requirement of 1,130 employees needed in the region between 2007 and 2014. Skills gaps in the region include general machining. 26% of the workforce is employed as assemblers. Engineering employment is geographically concentrated around Barking and Dagenham, Hillingdon, Ealing and Hounslow.
North East – There are an estimated 12,100 employees in the regional workforce, in just over 100 companies. There is a total requirement of 2,560 employees needed in the region between 2007 and 2014. Skills gaps in the region include: Computer Aided Engineering (CAE); and welding skills. 49% of the workforce is employed as assemblers. Engineering employment is geographically concentrated around Newcastle upon Tyne, Gateshead, Sunderland and Sedgefield.
North West – There are an estimated 18,100 employees in the regional workforce, in just over 370 companies. There is a total requirement of 5,020 employees needed in the region between 2007 and 2014. Skills gaps in the region include: general engineering skills; and coach building. 38% of the workforce is employed as assemblers. Engineering employment is geographically concentrated around Fylde, Knowsley, Crewe and Nantwich, Stockport, Oldham and Preston.
South East – There are an estimated 12,500 employees in the regional workforce, in just over 410 companies. There is a total requirement of 830 employees needed in the region between 2007 and 2014. Skills gaps in the region include: CNC machine operation. 23% of the workforce is employed as assemblers. Engineering employment is geographically concentrated around West Berkshire, Basingstoke and Deane, Milton Keynes, Eastleigh, Portsmouth, Crawley and Medway.
South West – There are an estimated 11,300 employees in the regional workforce, in just under 380 companies. There is a total requirement of 2,070 employees needed in the region between 2007 and 2014. Skills gaps in the region include: assembly line/ production robotics; craft skills; electronics; fabrication; mechanical fitters; and software engineering. 31% of the workforce is employed as assemblers. Engineering employment is geographically concentrated around Tewkesbury, Cheltenham, Stroud, South Gloucestershire, Bristol, Swindon, South Somerset, Poole and Plymouth.
West Midlands – There are an estimated 39,500 employees in the regional workforce, in just over 550 companies. There is a total requirement of 7,260 employees needed in the region between 2007 and 2014. Skills gaps in the region include: Materials Requirement Planning (MRP11); CNC machine operation; Computer Aided Manufacture (CAM); Computer Aided Engineering (CAE); tool setting; welding skills; and fabrication. Engineering employment is geographically concentrated around Birmingham, Sandwell, Walsall, Coventry, Dudley and Telford and Wrekin.
Yorkshire and the Humber – There are an estimated 12,900 employees in the regional workforce, in just over 310 companies. There is a total requirement of 2,900 employees needed in the region between 2007 and 2014. Skills gaps in the region include: CNC machine operation; craft skills; and multi-skills. 32% of the workforce is employed as vehicle body builders and repairers. Engineering employment is geographically concentrated around Sheffield, Leeds, Bradford, Kirklees, Rotherham and Kingston upon Hull.
Northern Ireland – There are an estimated 3,400 employees in the regional workforce. There is a total requirement of 840 employees needed between 2005 and 2014. 46% of the workforce is employed as vehicle body builders and repairers. Skills gaps include: welding; CNC machine operations; mechanical engineering skills; metalworking; and electrical engineering skills.
Scotland – There are an estimated 3,600 employees in the regional workforce, in just over 110 companies. There is a total requirement of 260 employees needed between 2007 and 2014. Skills gaps include: tool setting; and manufacturing. 27% of the workforce is employed as vehicle body builders and repairers. Engineering employment is geographically concentrated around the City of Glasgow, Fife, South Lanarkshire, the City of Aberdeen, North Lanarkshire and West Lothian.
Wales – There are an estimated 12,100 employees in the regional workforce, in just under 190 companies. There is a total requirement of 2,610 employees needed between 2007 and 2014. Skills gaps include: Computer Aided Design (CAD). 32% of the workforce is employed as assemblers. Engineering employment is geographically concentrated around Flintshire, Neath Port Talbot, Newport, Rhondda, Cynon and Taff, Bridgend and Wrexham.
[N.B. Data derived from Annual Business Inquiry, 2007, Census, 2001, and Northern Ireland Census of Employment, 2007.]
