Laser Tools reveals the 50 apprentices joining its landmark Future50 scheme

Laser Tools has confirmed the 50 apprentices who will make up Future50, the apprentice support scheme launched earlier this year as part of the tool company's 50th anniversary celebrations.

Future50 was announced in March at a special milestone event at Laser Tools' head office in Southam, Warwickshire, marking 50 years since the company was founded. The scheme invited garages across the UK to nominate apprentices already enrolled in training and working within the trade, with more than 200 nominations received before the closing date.

The final 50 span the length and breadth of the country, from garages in major cities to independent workshops in smaller towns, reflecting the appetite among garages nationwide to invest in their apprentices.

Across the UK, the West Midlands has the largest number of apprentices in the Future50, with a quarter of all successful applicants to the scheme coming from the region, closely followed by the South East and the South West regions. The most northerly applicant comes from Lerwick, in the Shetland Islands, the most southerly applicant from Yeovil in Somerset and an Abergavenny apprentice helps to ensure there is a good representation across the devolved nations.

Ten of the 50 apprentices selected, 20% of the cohort, are women, a proportion Laser Tools is keen to highlight given how significantly under-represented women remain in the automotive trade. Laser Tools sees the 10 women selected as proof that the pipeline of talent is there and wants their success to encourage more garages to recruit women into the industry.

With the automotive aftermarket facing a well-documented skills gap and thousands of technician vacancies unfilled across the UK, Future50 is also designed to address the sector's wider upskilling needs. Beyond the initial tool kit, the scheme is built to provide ongoing support, training and accreditation opportunities as each apprentice progresses through their career, giving garages a practical way to invest in the next generation of technicians rather than relying solely on recruitment. Plans are already underway for a training session in November which will be hosted by global automotive powerhouse, Schaeffler.

Each of the Future50 apprentices will receive a Laser Tools Apprentice Tool Kit, complete with a range of high-quality products to support their development. Kits are now being dispatched to garages across the country, with a number of apprentices having already received theirs.

All 50 apprentices were entered into a draw to win one of three pairs of VIP tickets to the British Touring Car Championship at Brands Hatch on 11 October, with three lucky apprentices enjoying the race day experience. There is also further advice, training and accreditation opportunities to be announced as the scheme develops.

Eddie Altham, Laser Tools Managing Director, said “We had an incredible response to Future50, and choosing the final 50 from so many strong nominations was no easy task. What stands out most is that a fifth of our Future50 are women, at a time when female representation in this trade is still far too low. We hope their success sends a clear message to garages that women belong in this industry and encourages more to support female apprentices.

“Future50 was always about more than a tool kit. We want to give these 50 apprentices the training, accreditation and support they need to build long careers, while inspiring more young people to consider automotive as a rewarding career and helping the wider industry address the skills gap.”