THE ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF THE HISTORIC AND CLASSIC MOTOR INDUSTRY IN THE UK

56 By breaking down these apprenticeship starts by industry, and comparing this with the structure of the classic vehicle sector as defined in Section s 5 - 9 , we can estimate the number of apprentices employed within the classic vehicle sector. By then looking at estimated output, average subsidy and training cost per apprentice by industry, we can estimate both gross and net gains from the hiring of apprentices in the classic vehicle industry. → Overall, we estimate that the classic vehicle industry employed 665 apprentices in 2019, who produced £ 22.4 million in gross output. → Factoring in subsidies and training costs, this translates to a net gain of £1 3.3 million in GVA 20 . This is equivalent to a GVA boost of £ 19,981 per apprentice. It is worth noting that these impacts solely represent the single-year gain in 2019 of employing apprentices. The true value comes both from these impacts, but also the anticipated longer-term productivity boost, benefitting both firms through higher profits and employees through higher wages. 12.4 The value of historic craft skills Apart from the quantifiable benefits there are additional values from preserving historic craft skills. The Institute of Historic Building Conservation advises that these create additional value: ‘ Conservation practice creates more skilled jobs (professional, technical, skilled manual, and vocational) and employment in craft-based industries 21 . There are four reasons why such craft skills are so highly valued. First, they promote a culture of repair rather than making from fresh. This is inherently more sustainable, contributing to the very low environmental footprint of the sector. Second, such skills once lost are hard to recreate. They are passed on by experts, often within families and once these experts are lost, many of the tricks of the trades are hard to work out from theory. Third, although it would be wrong to pretend that craft-based work is easy (quite the opposite), surveys of job satisfaction seem to generate results showing very high levels of job satisfaction for those doing craft work. A survey in the US showed that craft workers were amongst the top 8% of most satisfied workers 22 . Finally, craft work creates particular opportunities for integrating people who are hard to get into the labour force. Government evidence to the House of Commons Home Affairs Select Committee highlights the role of training in car mechanics especially in helping reduce reoffending rates amongst former prisoners 23 . 20 The calculations take account of apprenticeship levy payments and government subsidies 2 1 https://www.ihbc.org.uk/skills/resources/IHBC-Valuing-Historic.pdf 2 2 https://www.careerexplorer.com/careers/craft-artist/satisfaction/ 23 The Government reply to the first report from the Home Affairs Committee 2004-05 HC 193