From the article today in the Motor Trader it looks like there is a shortage of skilled Automotive Technicians. Has the reality finally hit home?

We need some serious promotion by the Government and Trade Bodies that the Automotive Technician is a highly skilled job especially with the onslaught of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles



Article from the Motor Trader Magazine:

"Demand for vehicle technicians continues to outstrip supply and the pool of fully proficient, trained candidates is dwindling.

That’s the view of Autotech Recruit which said the problem had got worse over the past year, was now UK-wide and will be exacerbated by Brexit.

“In 2016 pockets of the country were feeling the pinch with the skills shortage. However, in 2017, garages across the whole of the UK felt the strain. Unless financial provisions are made for training soon, this deficit in skills will deepen,” said Autotech Recruit MD Gavin White.

Dealer groups Pendragon, Inchcape and Arnold Clark are among those dealer groups who have made serious moves to recruit technicians over the past 12 months and the IMI has lobbied government to invest in training to deal with the shortage of electric vehicle technicians.

White said rising new car sales in recent years had created a bigger car parc and a surge in demand for technicians and MoT staff.

“Garage owners have realised the financial implications of having an un-manned MOT station and are taking on temporary, highly skilled, technicians to avoid any losses,” he said.

“With Brexit likely to impact the stream of migrant workers the industry has relied upon in previous years, motor industry bosses should be doing more to safeguard their current workforce and offer training provisions to retain their current workforce.”

He accused the Apprenticeship levy of damaging recruitment across all industries.

“While retaining current workforce is undoubtedly essential, so too is the need to develop and nurture young, home-grown talent. Over the years apprenticeships have been a route to harness the flexible, highly skilled and productive workforce for the future. However, since the introduction of the Apprenticeship Levy last year, the number of apprentices entering schemes across all UK industries has dropped by almost 57%,” he said."

UKAT