A major skills crisis is looming in garage workshops, says the Institute of the Motor Industry.

According to the Learning and Skills Council's "Working Futures" research, the automotive retail sector will have a total 'replacement requirement' of up to 120,000 people in all disciplines across the industry over the next decade.

Motor retail businesses in England already have more than 11,000 vacancies, of which nearly half are for highly skilled technicians, prompting a number of employers to recruit from countries such as Poland, Australia and New Zealand.

Spearheading an industry-wide campaign in 2008 aimed at school pupils from Year 9, parents, teachers, careers advisors, colleges and training providers, as well as engaging employers across the sector, the IMI wants 40,000 'home grown' apprentices in the automotive sector by 2013.

This will ensure that the workforce remains sufficiently qualified to handle future vehicle technology, which in many cases is already as complex as that found in state-of-the-art fighter aircraft.

Advanced systems involving fibre optics, controlled area networks (CAN) and fuel cell technology, for example, is demanding proficiency in highly sophisticated electronics and diagnostics.