AutoRaise Partnership Alliance: one industry, one voice

The AutoRaise Partnership Alliance came together again in September, uniting key industry leaders from across the insurance and repair sectors to tackle one of the industry’s biggest challenges – the ongoing skills crisis.

Chaired by Steve Fowler, Co-founder of carblah.com and EV Editor of The Independent, the roundtable brought together insurers, repair groups, suppliers, and training providers to share ideas, identify barriers, and agree practical steps to attract and retain new talent in vehicle repair.

The conversation was refreshingly open and solutions-focused. Delegates discussed how to make the industry more appealing to young people, engage schools and parents earlier, and modernise perceptions of what a career in vehicle repair looks like.

As one attendee put it, “The image of this industry needs to evolve – it’s modern, technical, and full of opportunity. We need to tell that story better.”

The session also explored how businesses can work together more effectively – sharing resources, data, and experience – to bridge the skills gap and ensure apprenticeships remain relevant to emerging technologies like EV and ADAS.

AutoRaise Managing Director Emma Speed said, “We know we can’t solve the skills crisis in isolation. The Partnership Alliance proves what can happen when leaders from across the industry sit around the same table and commit to collective action.”

Key outcomes from the meeting included a renewed focus on:

•                Engaging disadvantaged and disengaged young people through targeted outreach.

•                Building stronger partnerships between repairers, manufacturers, and educators.

•                Promoting diversity, inclusion, and visibility across the industry.

•                Lobbying for policy and funding reform to better support apprenticeships.

Follow-up working groups are now being formed to continue the conversation and develop tangible action plans.

The message was clear: collaboration, not competition, will secure the future of this industry – and AutoRaise is proud to be leading the charge.