T10 Automotive says its first-ever bricks-and-mortar campus in Chichester is a “game-changer” that will fill a much-needed training gap on the south coast. Meanwhile, the provider has also set its sights on challenging accepted norms in the aftermarket around staff recruitment and retention.
The company opened its new 700 square foot facility, based on an industrial state on the edge of the West Sussex county town, at the end of January, but this is just the start, it told CAT.
Managing director Lauren Brown intends to change the nature of regional training delivery. “There's nothing down here that supports development in automotive,” she said, “but there are thousands of thriving businesses based in this area. Just on this road there are dozens of garages, and generally they have to send staff up country for training. I wanted to create a southern hub where we can provide automotive training, be it technical, management or business.”
The company, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2026, works closely with LKQ Academy. “We currently run all of our technical training through them, from Level Two equivalent right through to Level Four. We will do this here as well, and we will also be doing other bespoke training here, including engine stripping and high-level diagnostics.”
The centre also caters for desk-based training, and includes an office area from which T10’s admin team can co-ordinate with its trainers working on-site with customers across the UK.
“We work with the best trainers in the aftermarket,” said Lauren. On any given day, 20 of a total pool of 50 trainers will be delivering T10’s courses nationwide.
“Having our own centre is a game-changer and means we can look at massively expanding what we can offer,” noted Brown.
Pathway
Beyond training, Brown believes the sector needs to make career progression central to its offering in order to address the skills shortage. “People are joining and leaving because initial recruitment isn't being done properly, but that’s not all. We need to understand who we're recruiting and where we want these people to fit in our business, and enable them to grow.
“Where is that clear pathway at the moment? It’s just not there. If you are a sales advisor and want to become a sales manager, or a Level Two technician who wants to run the workshop, how do you get there? We want to be part of the solution. We want to help people to stay in the industry and grow, and smash that glass ceiling so there are no limitations on ambition.”
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Managing director Lauren Brown[/caption]
With this in mind T10 is expanding its mission. CAT has already reported the opening of two new companies under the T10 umbrella. T10 Arena has been set up to cover learning and development tools, while business support will be rolled out via T10 Performance. “T10 Automotive is the foundational business for us,” said Brown, “but it always felt like beginning of something larger. Now, T10 Automotive will be the technical training arm for face-to-face training,” explained Brown. Then for online training you go via T10 Arena. T10 Performance will be the place to go to progress your business.
“Through our expanded portfolio of companies we will be able to take everything we've learnt within T10 Automotive and apply it across the board. We will be able to help everyone at every level achieve their goals.”
Possible
This brings us back to Brown’s mission to change the way automotive engages with the world. Looking at the next generation of talent, she believes outreach isn’t starting early enough. “Most of the time we are talking to them after they have chosen their GCSE options, at which point it is too late. We need to show children as early as possible that automotive is not a dirty business, with all of this amazing equipment available to you in this job.
“I did a presentation at my daughter's primary school a few years ago. I stood at the front of the class with a diagnostic tool, and asked them what they thought it was. Most of them thought it was an iPad or tablet.”
A more equal gender balance could help the skills crisis too, as Brown noted: “My first question for the children was they knew anyone working in the automotive world. Some said their dad one said their granddad, but hardly any of them said they knew a female. The gender stereotype is still so real, and we need to break that barrier to make it appeal to girls and boys. When we started, we were mainly working in the VM world, and there were so many times where I was the only female in the room. We need balance, and for everyone to bring their strengths to the table.”
Understanding
Bringing out the best in everyone is a key part of the mission: “Via T10 Performance, we're offering something called a Character DNA, through which you get to understand your personality better. This is not just for individuals though. “Businesses can use this to understand their staff too. Customers I've spoken to about it now have a much better understanding of their staff and it has been completely transformative for them.”
Brown is already looking ahead, with a view to perhaps leapfrog to a larger campus space: “T10 has always been about people for me. What I love is to see people develop, and feel excited at the prospect of being able to offer that experience more locally.”
She added: “If you asked me five years ago what the plans for T10 Automotive, I would have said we would be winning major manufacturer contracts. Instead, we’re so busy in what we do in the aftermarket we don't even bid for them anymore. I feel that here in the aftermarket is where we can make the most impact. I want to make sure that anyone that's been on any course with T10's name to it has finished feeling more competent and more confident in themselves.”
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