Training, development & wellbeing 46 www.aftermarketonline.net MARCH 2026 The aftermarket is increasingly opening doors to the next generation of talent and helping tackle UK unemployment, by making it easier for jobseekers, school leavers and career changers to see the sector for what it is — a skilled, future-facing industry with long-term careers. In August to October 2025, there were 1.83 million unemployed in the UK, with the unemployment rate increasing to 5.1 percent. Youth unemployment is also climbing. However, at the same time garages and bodyshops continued to report skills gaps, not because the work isn’t there, but because the industry is changing quickly. EV technology, ADAS, calibration readiness, advanced materials, modern paint systems, structural repair and digital estimating are all raising the bar on capability. That’s why the UK Garage & Bodyshop Event (UKGBE) is putting skills, training and career development front and centre. Returning to NEC Birmingham on June 3-4 this year, UKGBE will bring together 200 leading suppliers and over 5,000 professionals across the garage, bodyshop and vehicle detailing sectors, combining an interactive exhibition with live demonstrations, hands-on workshops and expert-led sessions. The 2026 event will also feature over 80 hours of free training and practical sessions, designed to help technicians and business owners build confidence in the skills they need now, and the ones they’ll need next. Crucially, events like UKGBE can help the industry tackle the attraction challenge head-on. Joanne Knowles, event director at Messe Frankfurt UK, organisers of UKGBE, said: “Those unemployment figures are a reminder that 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.” The businesses that will thrive over the next decade won’t simply be the ones with the biggest premises or the most bays, 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. For details or to book a stand at UKGBE visit: https://garage-and-bodyshopevent.uk.messefrankfurt.com/ birmingham/en/book-a-stand.html Connecting garages with next-gen pool of talent UK Garage & Bodyshop Event puts training and careers development on this year’s show agenda
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