Recruiting sufficient certified technicians to fulfill workload will proceed to problem service and restore companies.

The Motor Ombudsman’s (MO) newest survey of impartial garages and franchise supplier workshops which gives an annual barometer for the UK’s service and restore sector revealed that greater than half (54%) of companies have prioritised investing in recruitment in 2024 to deal with ongoing employees shortages.

When questioned about the principle components that can put them to the check this 12 months, 58% of these surveyed anticipated recruiting extra technicians to be problematic as certified and expert mechanics stay an more and more sought-after useful resource within the labour market.

The shrinking abilities pool has additionally been recognized by a brand new report from the Institute of the Motor Business (IMI) which stated the persevering with problem of filling vacancies – the best emptiness price in 21 years – was solely set to extend due an growing older workforce and retirements, wage dissatisfaction and post-COVID job-hopping.

With each new and used electrical autos (EVs) growing in reputation amongst shoppers, and with fewer mechanical components than petrol and diesel fashions, decreasing the necessity for upkeep, 26% of repairers stated battery-powered vehicles would offer much less scope for extra income alternatives and substitute components in 2024

Nonetheless, that is down from 32% seen in the identical examine about expectations forward of 2023, as extra companies look to embrace new applied sciences and develop different income streams, with a fifth at present planning so as to add workshop and MOT bays.

Invoice Fennell, chief ombudsman and managing director of The Motor Ombudsman, stated: “Our newest examine presents a transparent image in that garages and workshops will nonetheless should take care of numerous underlying challenges this 12 months.”