Facebook obsessed generation shuns apprenticeships

The warning came from Ansar Ali,chief executive of sports-car maker Caterham at a conference of more than 300 motor industry bosses at Londons Canary Wharf on Monday.

As the UKs booming motor industry seeks to plug vital skills shortages,unmotivated teenagers are turning away from manufacturing jobs offering hands-on skills using real nuts and bolts.

Instead,they are in favour of the virtual attractions of driving a screen car on a Playstation or over the internet,he said.

The young generation who come in are not interested. They seem to get no joy from what they are doing. You would think people would have an interest in building real cars, the Daily Mail quoted him as saying.

But theres a complete lack of engagement. We do struggle. Children today just dont seem interested in sports cars. Theyd rather be on Facebook. They are more hooked on computer games, Ali said.

He told the conference that he struggled to find young people to work at his companys factory in Dartford,Kent,creating the hand-built two-seater sports cars despite an average salary of 17,000 pounds.

Additionally,some schools are adding to the problem by demonising the motor car and the motor industry as something to be criticised rather than celebrated.

Motor manufacturers said the problem and skill shortage was most 8216;challenging among the 8216;less glamorous8217; supplier and component companies.

Even BBC TV presenter Justin Webb,who was chairing the motor industry conference,admitted that sports cars are not seen as 8216;cool8217; among young people.

Cars at my childrens school are seen as a problem, he said.

Ali,whose firm makes the back-to-basics two-seater Seven sports car said that despite the recession he was struggling to find and retain motivated young employees.

The firm builds around 500 of the Seven sports cars a year,costing around 24,000 pounds each,of which half go for export. They are available as completed cars,or in kit-form which enthusiasts can then assemble at home in their garages.

Later he said that out of 106 of his employees about 30 work on assembling cars and about a dozen are in their late teens or early twenties.

Training is on the job but turnover is high.

The younger generation seem to get no joy from driving,from building a car from scratch,or from meeting the customers. They are disengaged. I think its a cultural thing, Ali said.

Their virtual world is more important than the real world. Its a real challenge for the Government,the industry and the education system.

We do have one or two outstanding individuals. But recently we offered people tickets and the chance to go at no charge to the F1 grand prix. Only one person went, he added.