With UK unemployment on the rise, the automotive aftermarket has a timely opportunity to be part of the solution. By making career pathways clearer and more visible, the sector can open its doors to jobseekers, school leavers and career changers looking for skilled, future‑facing work with long‑term prospects.
Between August and October 2025, 1.83 million people were unemployed in the UK, pushing the unemployment rate to 5.1 per cent. Youth unemployment remains a particular challenge, with 735,000 people aged 16–24 out of work and an unemployment rate of 16 per cent. At the same time, garages and bodyshops across the country continue to report skills shortages.
The issue is not a lack of work, but the pace of change. EV technology, ADAS, calibration, advanced materials, modern paint systems, structural repair and digital estimating are all raising the bar on technical capability – and reshaping what a career in the aftermarket looks like.
This is where the UK Garage & Bodyshop Event (UKGBE) plays a key role. Returning to the NEC Birmingham on 3–4 June 2026, UKGBE will bring together 200 leading suppliers and more than 5,000 professionals from the garage, bodyshop and vehicle detailing sectors. Alongside the exhibition, the event will deliver live demonstrations, hands‑on workshops and over 80 hours of free training.
Crucially, UKGBE also tackles the industry’s attraction challenge head‑on. As Joanne Knowles, event director at Messe Frankfurt UK, explains: “There are thousands of people, especially young people, who want a real opportunity. The aftermarket can offer exactly that – a practical, skilled career with progression, purpose and long-term security.
“UKGBE is designed to bring the industry together around skills, not just to showcase innovation, but to make training more accessible, build confidence through hands-on learning, and help garages and bodyshops connect with the next generation of talent.”
In the decade ahead, the most successful businesses won’t simply be the biggest. They’ll be the ones that invest in people, create clear development routes and make it easy for new talent to join, grow and stay.
