Leeds City College is continuing to try and fill the future skills gap in the classic car industry with a new classic car restoration course.
Its new level 2-3 programmes will be recognised by the Institute of the Motor Industry and students will learn a range of traditional skills, the focus being in those that are different from modern vehicle repair.
These include fabricating body panels and engine rebuilding and the new course – due to be launched in September – will be the first time in eight years that the College has been able to run a full-time funded course after having its funding cut.
The Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs collaborated on creating the course backed up by its own research that some 7000 skilled classic car experts need to be trained up in the next five years to cope with demand.
Michael Coman, Vehicle Restoration Course Tutor, was instrumental in pulling together industry groups and businesses to said: “We are keen to attract more young people into classic car restoration with this new programme. It’s a really exciting career and we’ve seen many of our former students go on to set up their own successful businesses or work with established specialists in the UK such as McGrath Maserati and others across Europe. Working with these businesses and the sector as a whole is vital in ensuring we deliver the skills that employers want.”
James Elliott is a former Editor of Classic & Sports Car