Behind the Scenes: Why BBC Breakfast Spent the Morning at Hoyles of Todmorden

The BBC news crew broadcast live from our workshop at Hoyles of Todmorden all morning long. The topic? One that sits right at the heart of what we do every day: the critical national shortage of trade apprenticeships and what it takes to train the next generation.

Having the national spotlight on our female and family owned garage located in Todmorden, West Yorkshire was a huge honour for our entire team, but more importantly, it opened up a vital conversation about the future of modern automotive trades across the UK.

The UK Trade Gap: Why Apprenticeships Matter Now More Than Ever

During the live broadcasts, the BBC team took a deep dive into the real challenges facing independent garages and trade businesses today.

Across the country, skilled trades are facing a growing demographic gap:

 High demand, low intake: Modern vehicles require more specialised technical skills than ever before, yet fewer young people are being guided towards hands on trade pathways.

 The myth of the workshop: There is still a common misconception about what working in a modern automotive centre looks like. Today's technicians work as much with diagnostics, electronics, and specialised software as they do with mechanical tools.

 Local commitment: Small and medium-sized independent businesses remain the backbone of apprentice training in local communities like Calderdale, but more support is needed nationwide to bridge the training gap.

Spotlight on the Team: 

Our favourite part of the morning was seeing the workshop featured live on national television.

A massive well done to Louie and Gav, who were interviewed live on air and spoke amazingly well about their experiences and what working in the trade is really like. Speaking in front of millions of viewers is no small feat, and they represented Hoyles with absolute distinction!

A huge shout-out also goes to Nathan, Adam, Paula, Alex, Bev and Alison who were a massive part of making the morning run smoothly behind the scenes. Bringing an entire television production into a working garage takes a massive team effort, and well done to all the team for representing us so brilliantly.

At Hoyles, taking on apprentices isn't just a tick box exercise, it's how we build our future. Learning on the job, earning a wage, and building real world, problem solving skills sets young people up for a career for life.

Looking Ahead at Hoyles of Todmorden

We want to extend a huge thank you to the BBC Breakfast team, everyone who was up before dawn to get everything ready, and our loyal customers across Todmorden who sent messages of support throughout the whole day.  Well done again to all involved!

We are prouder than ever to champion apprenticeships, invest in top tier talent, and keep Todmorden and the wider community moving forward.

Inspired to Start a Career in the Trade?

Whether you're looking to start your own automotive career or want to learn more about upcoming apprenticeship opportunities with Hoyles of Todmorden, we’d love to hear from you!

 Get in touch with our team: Stop by the garage or send an inquiry via our contact page.

 Did you miss the broadcast? Catch up on BBC iPlayer or follow our social channels for behind-the-scenes clips from the morning!