EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE GIVEN NEW HOPE AT RACE RETRO
There is a recognised skills shortage in the historic motorsport industry; hence there are extensive employment opportunities for young people willing to learn new skills. But until now, there has been a problem. The majority of businesses in this sector are small, owner-managed companies, reluctant to recruit unskilled staff. At the same time, there has been no single, nationally co-ordinated training programme throughout the industry.
This is about to change, thanks to the formation of The Motorsport Academy. "We are taking a central stand at Race Retro, the International Historic Motorsport Show at Stoneleigh Park on23-25 March, to explain how we plan to address the training problem," said David Allison of The Motorsport Academy.
"The UK has long needed a recognised national training programme to meet the demand for skilled technicians and practical engineers in the exciting and rapidly-growing world of historic motorsport. This requires both funding and co-operation from industry and educational establishments to deliver the required training.
"With the formation of the Motorsport Academy, data from FIVA and FBHVC research [see below] and the database of companies collated by the International Historic Motorsport Show, we believe there is now a basis for working with education and training providers to develop a nationwide training programme."
The Academy stand at the Show will be adjacent to an area dedicated to education and training providers interested in this sector.
Race Retro, the International Historic Motorsport Show, is uniquely positioned to bring together all parts of the industry under one roof. It is thus the only place for students to see the historic motorsport world as it really is.
Race Retro, the fourth International Historic Motorsport Show, combines live action events with over 400 exhibition stands, covering 70 years of historic motorsport on both two wheels and four; on road, off road and on track.
Race Retro 2007 runs from 23-25 March at Stoneleigh Park, near Coventry. For advance tickets to the Show, please visit www.historicmotorsportshow.com or call the ticket hotline on 08701 262121. Advance one-day tickets cost £18 each; two-day tickets are £32 each.
