Car firms looking for young people with auto motivation
A survey for auto sector trade organisation the Automotive Industrial Partnership last year found there were around 5,000 vacancies for skilled people.
Competition for automotive technicians is so high, leading employers are boosting pay to recruit more.
yolanta Collins, an automotive maintenance technician at Inchcape Mercedes Benz, Nottingham, says: ‘As a child I was always interested in fixing things and helped my dad strip machines.’
she studied A-level engineering and then got an apprenticeship at Mercedes Benz, which combined a college course with hands-on learning.
six years on, yolanta has Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) and Mercedes Benz qualifications, including passenger car and hybrids maintenance.
she adds. ‘Working for Mercedes Benz, customer care is vital so everything must be right first time.’
Louise Manzano, human resources director at Inchcape retail uK, which is looking for 350 new skilled vehicle technicians in addition to its existing 950, says: ‘We are looking for recruits who appreciate teamwork and share our ethos.’
The company has introduced a new benefits package for technicians, and incentives include pensions and a share save scheme, plus training for technicians at all levels. (see joininchcape.co.uk)
Data from recruiter reed shows that the average salary for vehicle technicians is £30,951.
DeTaIls of UK motor industry careers, plus information about ways in and work experience on the IMI’s careers site at autocity. org.uk.