With just over a week to go until Automechanika Birmingham opens its doors, the industry is gearing up for one of the most exciting new features the show has ever seen. For the first time, Motorvate will take centre stage, alongside a jam-packed Ignite Arena programme that puts the spotlight on careers, skills, inspiration and the future of the automotive aftermarket.
Running from 3rd - 5th June at the NEC Birmingham, Automechanika Birmingham 2025 is set to be the most vibrant edition yet, with a renewed focus on bringing the sector together to nurture talent, open minds and celebrate what makes this industry a great place to build a career. Designed with a younger audience in mind, Motorvate is a fast-paced, high-energy feature zone created to show students, apprentices and career-changers that there is a future for them in the trade, whether they’re interested in diagnostics or design, marketing or mechanics, logistics or leadership.
Motorvate brings a festival feel to the show floor with interactive challenges, games, competitions and prizes. From professional-grade diagnostic tasks and simulator races against NAPA Racing UK BTCC drivers, to technical tests and hands-on design activities, attendees will be encouraged to step out of their comfort zones and explore the possibilities available across the sector. Exhibitors including Bosch Training Solutions, Castrol, Autotech Academy, Kwik Fit and LKQ are all involved in delivering high-impact, skills-led activities that combine fun with genuine learning opportunities – and the rewards are real too, with everything from Apple vouchers and consoles to BTCC tickets, training bursaries and merchandise up for grabs.
The Ignite Arena at Motorvate will also be in full swing across the three-day event, offering a packed schedule of bite-size talks, discussions and informal conversations with some of the most influential names and brands in the industry . Session attendees will also be in with the chance to win spot prizes, giveaways and food vouchers for the always-popular street food truck!
On Tuesday 3rd June at 12pm, Motorvate ambassador Gavin White will host a relaxed, behind-the-scenes chat with NAPA Racing UK drivers Dan Cammish and Dan Rowbottom, joined by Castrol MEM Rally driver Meirion Evans. With plenty of stories from life in the fast lane, they’ll explore what makes a successful driver, the realities of the motorsport lifestyle, and what keeps them passionate about the trade – all with the chance for a meet and greet afterwards.
Also confirmed for Tuesday 3rd and Wednesday 4th at 1:30pm is TV personality and qualified technician Edd China, who will join Headline Sponsor Bosch Training Solutions in the Ignite Arena to talk about his journey into electric vehicle training. China’s personal insight into the latest EV technology and what it’s taught him about where the industry is heading promises to be one of the standout moments of the show.
There will also be a dedicated session led by James Cameron, CEO and founder of Mission Motorsport and Mission Community, exploring the opportunity the automotive sector must embrace to access the unique skillsets of service leavers. This session will be followed by an Armed Forces Covenant Signing event, with companies pledging their support for veterans and committing to building more inclusive career pathways into the industry.
Elsewhere in the arena, Toyota and Lexus Academy will discuss the future of mobility with a glimpse at the future, exploring technologies such as the revolutionary hydrogen fuel cell technology which powers the Toyota Mirai. In other tech sessions, Autotech Academy will explore, ‘are cars the new smartphone??’ Be prepared to challenge your thinking! Throughout the event, attendees can expect to hear from professionals across a range of roles and backgrounds, those who’ve been there and done it, and those who are doing it right now. Speakers from major employers like Kwik Fit’s Dan Joyce (Retail Operations Director), who will share insights on how he got started and progressed in his talk ‘From workshop floor to boardroom door; how grit, grip and growth drove one apprentice to the top’.
Mark Field, Chief Executive of the IAAF said: “It’s great to see Automechanika Birmingham creating real momentum around talent, skills and future workforce development. The launch of Motorvate is a major step forward in demonstrating the incredible breadth of careers available across our sector – and the Ignite Arena is giving people a real sense of what’s possible, right now and in the years ahead.”
Motorvate’s Ignite Arena will also play host to the Thirty Under 30 presentations, where the winners of the awards will be announced. This new-for-2025 initiative recognises and celebrates the rising stars across the industry.
Registration remains open for individuals, training providers, schools, colleges and employers who want to be part of the action. To secure your free ticket, visit: https://automechanika-2025-splash.reg.buzz/ and to view the full event programme, visit the website.
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