STRONGER THAN EVER
Historic vehicle sector’s hunt for staff and apprentices grows post-lockdown
Specialists are claiming that the historic vehicle sector is experiencing a post-COVID-19 boom, driven by lockdown work and the gradual easing of restrictions.
Increased work volumes have prompted companies to take to job sites and social media to search for new staff members in a wide variety of roles, from front-ofhouse managers to skilled senior technicians.
Many of these businesses – which already employ 34,000 people and contribute £7.2bn to the UK economy, according to figures from the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs’ National Historic Vehicle Survey – adjusted to lockdown last year by continuing to work on projects in a socially distant manner.
Apprentices are also needed to plug certain skill gaps as an older workforce looks to wind down alongside COVID-19 restrictions.
Association of Heritage Engineers director, Dominic Taylor-Lane, told Classic Car Weekly: ‘A lot of people are retiring post-COVID; skills are being learned to plug the gap. Businesses are also expanding.’
Project Heaven Restoration in Kingscliffe, Northampshire, is also seeking to take on further staff, having recently recruited an apprentice. Owner, Peter Bulbick, said: ‘ We have been quite busy throughout lockdown – we do everything in-house – and we have also been working on a new venture, meaning that we are looking for another mechanic.
‘ We’re now gearing up for electric car conversions on cars from Porsche, to Jaguar E-type to Aston Martin, and this has created a lot of interest.’
As well as having a vacancy for a fully qualified mechanic, Cheshire Porsche specialist, Weissach UK, is also looking at recruiting an apprentice or new recruit under the Government’s Kickstart Scheme. Owner, Thomas Atherton, said: ‘ We have never closed during lockdown and business has expanded month by month. We have had a lot of interest from potential customers with things getting back to relative normality.’
Managing director of Readingbased MG specialist Beech Hill Garage, William De La Riviere, said that owners were getting ready to enjoy their cars properly: ‘ We are out of lockdown and work is coming in. We have a senior mechanic moving to part-time and we’re also looking for a general assistant. We’d welcome enquiries from MG enthusiasts and would also consider taking on an apprentice.’