The Government has been issued a stark warning about the critical skills shortage in the UK’s vehicle repair sector and is being called upon to help re-skill unemployed steel workers.

The boom in new car sales is not being matched by the number of people entering the trade in the UK to tackle the skills deficit.

The warning comes from Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) chief executive Steve Nash.

He said: “Careers advice available in schools has been at best unhelpful for the motor industry since government reforms in 2012, and education cuts have meant schools are hoarding young people which consequently affects the ongoing skills shortage.

“Without significant investment from the government to bring young people into our industry, businesses will struggle to service its customers and provide the high level jobs the economy desperately needs.”

Nash called for the Government to give funding to steel workers that are being made redundant to retrain to work in the automotive repair industry.