Spark the Drive Within
StarterMotor is the charity helping young people into the classic and historic vehicle industry, through careers days, mentoring, work experience and time behind the wheel.
Opening doors to opportunity
There’s much more to the classic vehicle industry than meets the eye.
From engineering and restoration to sales, marketing, events and auctioneering, it offers a remarkable range of rewarding careers.
We help young people discover those opportunities and take their first steps through work experience, apprenticeships, specialist training and industry connections.
- added to the UK economy every year
- £7bn
- skilled professionals in the sector
- 34,500
- classic and historic vehicles on UK roads
- 1.9m
- of historic vehicle businesses offer or plan to offer apprenticeships
- 45%
Figures from the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs’ National Historic Vehicle Survey, 2025.
Keeping the past alive
The historic vehicle world is full of remarkable machines, specialist knowledge and passionate people.
Its future depends on passing those skills and that enthusiasm to a new generation.
As the industry’s workforce ages, StarterMotor is helping ensure the knowledge, craftsmanship and culture of classic motoring continues to thrive.
Connecting people and possibilities
StarterMotor brings together the people shaping the future of historic motoring.
Young people with the spark, the schools and colleges that teach them, and the businesses that will one day employ them rarely meet by chance. Through partnerships with schools, colleges, training institutions and industry specialists, we create the opportunities to learn, gain experience and build lasting connections.
Our Ambassadors represent the charity at events across the country, our careers days bring hundreds of students to Bicester Motion, and our partners open their doors to the next generation.
It’s a growing community united by a belief that the best way to preserve our motoring heritage is to share it.
15 to 25
the ages of our Ambassadors, the young volunteers who represent StarterMotor at events across the country and help run our careers days.
Most 14-year-old girls want a horse, but I always wanted 98 of them, under the bonnet of an MGB GT of course.
Hannah ChallisStarterMotor Ambassador50+
specialist historic vehicle businesses on our doorstep at Bicester Motion, from restorers and engineers to dealers and event teams.
300
students a day at our careers days at Bicester Motion, from Year 9 up, meeting specialists and industry leaders in groups of 30.
A home at the heart of historic motoring
StarterMotor is based at Bicester Motion, one of the UK’s leading centres for historic automotive expertise.
Surrounded by specialist businesses and a thriving community of enthusiasts, it’s an ideal place to connect the next generation with the people, skills and opportunities of the industry.
A place where the motoring industry has a working future.
Help us keep the past on the road
Whether you’re a young person exploring your future, an educator looking for opportunities, or a business keen to support the next generation, we’d love to hear from you.
Together, we can ensure the world of historic motoring has a bright future.
Young people
Are you a bright spark with an eye on a future career in the historic vehicle industry? Tell us about yourself and we will help you take the first step.
Schools
Are you a school looking to inspire the next generation of motoring professionals? Ask us about supporting your careers day or curriculum.
Industry
Is your company looking to support bright sparks with their future careers? Enquire about becoming a charity partner.