New analysis reveals Guildford, Exeter and Dartford are outperforming major cities for motor industry opportunities as interest in automotive careers continues to grow
Interest in automotive careers is gathering pace across the UK, with jobseekers increasingly looking beyond the country’s established motor industry centres. New research indicates that smaller towns and cities may be offering some of the strongest opportunities, with several unexpected locations outperforming major automotive hubs.
Searches for “automotive jobs” have risen 28% over the past year, reaching 19,000 searches in the past month, according to Google search data analysed by Regtransfers.
Interest appears to be accelerating further, with searches for “mechanic jobs” jumping 45% in the past month alone, also reaching 19,000 monthly searches.
Now, new research from private number plate specialist Regtransfers has revealed where that growing number of jobseekers could have the best chance of finding work.
Analysis of automotive businesses and job vacancies across 96 UK towns and cities found that Guildford, Exeter and Dartford are emerging as three of the country’s strongest motor industry employment hotspots, beating much larger cities including Manchester and Birmingham.
Guildford Named UK’s Top Motor Industry Job Hotspot
Guildford topped the ranking after recording 2.5 automotive vacancies for every existing automotive business over the past 12 months.
That’s 2.8 times the national average, making the Surrey town one of the clearest examples of automotive employment opportunities appearing outside the places traditionally associated with Britain’s motor industry.
Exeter ranked second, with 387 automotive businesses supporting 602 vacancies over the past year and an overall job vacancy rate of 34%, among the highest recorded in the research.
Dartford placed third, where 259 automotive businesses generated 399 vacancies during the same period.
The findings suggest the geography of automotive employment could be broader than jobseekers might assume.
Despite Birmingham and Manchester having some of the largest automotive business bases in the country, their vacancy-to-business ratios were roughly six times lower than Guildford’s.
It means simply living near a major automotive centre does not necessarily translate into more opportunities for people currently looking to enter the industry.
The findings come as interest in automotive careers appears to be rising significantly.
Search demand for “automotive jobs” remained relatively stable for several years before beginning to climb more sharply through 2025 and 2026, with searches now 28% higher than a year ago.
Searches for “mechanic jobs” have also recently surged, increasing 45% in the space of a month.
The rise comes during a period of significant change for Britain’s automotive workforce, as electrification, EV infrastructure and new technologies create roles extending beyond traditional vehicle maintenance.
The government is also rolling out its £1.5 billion Youth Guarantee, including new Foundation Apprenticeships launching this year. One of the routes covers electric vehicle charging point installation and maintenance, creating another potential entry point into the wider automotive industry for younger workers.
Mark Trimbee, CEO of Regtransfers, said:
“There’s a perception that if you want to build a career in the motor industry, you need to look towards the places traditionally associated with automotive businesses and manufacturing.
What’s interesting about this research is that some of the strongest hiring activity isn’t necessarily happening in those places.
Guildford, Exeter and Dartford aren’t the first places most people would name if asked to identify Britain’s motor industry hotspots, yet they’re currently producing a significant number of opportunities relative to the size of their local automotive sectors.
At the same time, we’re seeing searches for automotive jobs rise considerably, suggesting more people are actively considering careers in the sector.
The industry itself is changing too. Working in the motor trade doesn’t necessarily mean being a mechanic. There are careers across sales, logistics, customer service, technology, administration and an expanding EV sector.
For anyone looking to enter the industry, particularly younger people considering their first career, the message from the data is to look beyond the obvious locations. Some of the strongest opportunities could be in places you wouldn’t expect.”
A New Map of Britain’s Motor Industry?
The research also raises questions about whether Britain’s traditional map of automotive employment is changing.
While cities such as Birmingham and Manchester retain large numbers of automotive businesses, the new ranking measures where businesses are actively recruiting relative to the size of the local industry.
That puts smaller and mid-sized locations much further up the table.
Further analysis of the 96 locations will examine whether there is a wider North-South divide in automotive employment opportunity, as well as which traditional motor industry centres are gaining and losing ground.
