Automotive charity Ben expands support amid job losses

Automotive industry charity, Ben, is strengthening support for those facing job losses and redundancies, including raising awareness about coaching to help people with upskilling, job seeking, career changes and building confidence.

With UK automotive production down nearly 12% in the first half of 2025 and suppliers announcing thousands of redundancies, Ben is raising awareness about its ‘Work, health and wellbeing’ support.

At the same time, industry analysts have warned of labour shortages in the automotive supply chain, projecting the need for 111,400 new and replacement automotive roles by 2035, including demand for 45,800 vehicle technicians.

Ben’s ‘Work, health and wellbeing’ services include, tips and advice on CVs and cover letters, redundancy rights, interview preparation and job hunting.

Ben also provides one‑to‑one support and coaching, as well as practical support for people who are looking for work or to re-train, coaching to help improve confidence and motivation, and access to digital money worries and mental health support programmes on SilverCloud.

Rachel Clift, CEO at Ben, said: “Work is an incredibly important part of our lives and contributes to our overall health and wellbeing.

“As well as providing the financial security we all need, work provides us with social connections and helps us build confidence, self-esteem and a sense of purpose.

“The automotive industry is simultaneously grappling with redundancies and a long-term technician shortage.