FixMyCar survey highlights data hole in storage apprenticeships

A ballot by automotive restore platform FixMyCar has revealed that just about two-thirds (64%) of impartial garages really feel they lack the knowledge or data wanted to rent an apprentice.

Greater than 1 / 4 (28%) additionally admitted to having no understanding of apprenticeships in any respect, together with how they perform or methods to set up one inside their enterprise.

The survey, performed amongst 112 impartial garages throughout the FixMyCar community to coincide with Nationwide Apprenticeship Week (February 10-16), discovered that enthusiasm for hiring apprentices isn’t the difficulty.

Over a 3rd (34%) of respondents expressed curiosity in hiring an apprentice sooner or later, whereas one other 28% have been unsure – probably as a result of ignorance recognized within the ballot.

In response, FixMyCar has pledged to supply all subscription garages in its community with a digital Apprenticeship Recommendation Information by the top of February. This initiative marks the start of a serious 2025 marketing campaign targeted on aftermarket recruitment, positioning FixMyCar as a part of the answer to the continued expertise scarcity within the sector.

This data hole contributes to an ongoing recruitment problem within the automotive {industry}. In accordance with The Motor Ombudsman’s newest report, 41% of garages surveyed cited a scarcity of obtainable apprentices to fill technician vacancies as a serious staffing problem final yr.

FixMyCar additionally gathered insights from garages that already make use of apprentices to grasp the challenges they face. Neal Rhodes, head of technical coaching and apprenticeships at Nationwide Group Protyre Autocare, pointed to a lack of expertise as the largest impediment.

“A ignorance and understanding about apprenticeships is certainly the largest barrier for garages,” Rhodes stated. “Particularly for the reason that accountability for apprenticeships now largely falls on employers reasonably than training suppliers. Whereas issues are enhancing, many garages nonetheless don’t totally perceive their function within the course of or the extent of help they need to present.”

Smaller garages, particularly, wrestle with these commitments, at the same time as bigger networks like Protyre Autocare discover it difficult. Rhodes confused the significance of bringing new expertise into the {industry}, stating: “All of us have a accountability to fill the expertise pool for the good thing about the broader automotive sector.”

Matt Wrankmore, head of storage community at FixMyCar, underscored the necessity for industry-wide recognition of the difficulty. “Now we have so many nice auto restore companies on our community that actually care about their career and the way forward for it,” he stated. “Nevertheless, there’s a clear data hole creating one more recruitment barrier for these garages.”