The Workshop Whisperer’s Post

⚠ Yes, the UK automotive industry is facing a shortage of vehicle technicians, which is expected to worsen over time:    Vacancy rate 📈 The automotive sector has a vacancy rate of 4.3 vacancies per 100 employees, which is 43% higher than the average across all industries.    In January 2024, 52% of job postings were for vehicle technicians, mechanics, and electricians.    What needs to be done to improve this? Do manufacturers put more money into apprenticeship schemes like the construction industry has which is a long term fix or do we need to pay Technicians more money to persuade people to change industries and make it a career?!

Safety starts with your mindset, which is why every morning each of our field crews fill out an individual FOCUS (Focus, Observe, Check, Use, Sign) form to help them identify and mitigate safety risks. One way to mitigate risks, as apprentice Trever Sleight shares, is to make sure you're using the right tool for the job. #nationalconstructionsafetyweek #ConstructionSafety #HuntElectric #SafetyWeek2024

Stop training your competition! If you’ve ever watched a talented technician leave for a competitor, consider this… Last October I joined Chris Jones on the Ratchet and Wrench Podcast to talk about 8 Reasons Why Techs Quit Auto Repair Shops. Here they are: Lack of career development / advancement Inadequate compensation Uncaring/uninspiring leaders Lack of meaningful work Unsustainable work expectations Unreliable/unsupportive colleagues Lack of workplace flexibility Lack of support for health/well-being Kudos if you’ve developed an apprenticeship or mentorship program and can bring new techs into the industry and get them trained up properly! But don’t stop there! Close the revolving door in your shop by addressing these common employee complaints. Your techs will thank you. And they’ll stay. #Jobs #Staffing #Employment #StaffingAgency #Repair #Auto #Hiring #Automotive #Mechanic #Technician #TechnicianFind #AutoRepair #AutoRepairShop

Stop training your competition! If you’ve ever watched a talented technician leave for a competitor, consider this… Last October I joined Chris Jones on the Ratchet and Wrench Podcast to talk about 8 Reasons Why Techs Quit Auto Repair Shops. Here they are: Lack of career development / advancement Inadequate compensation Uncaring/uninspiring leaders Lack of meaningful work Unsustainable work expectations Unreliable/unsupportive colleagues Lack of workplace flexibility Lack of support for health/well-being Kudos if you’ve developed an apprenticeship or mentorship program and can bring new techs into the industry and get them trained up properly! But don’t stop there! Close the revolving door in your shop by addressing these common employee complaints. Your techs will thank you. And they’ll stay. #Jobs #Staffing #Employment #StaffingAgency #Repair #Auto #Hiring #Automotive #Mechanic #Technician #TechnicianFind #AutoRepair #AutoRepairShop

Stop training your competition! If you’ve ever watched a talented technician leave for a competitor, consider this… Last October I joined Chris Jones on the Ratchet and Wrench Podcast to talk about 8 Reasons Why Techs Quit Auto Repair Shops. Here they are: Lack of career development / advancement Inadequate compensation Uncaring/uninspiring leaders Lack of meaningful work Unsustainable work expectations Unreliable/unsupportive colleagues Lack of workplace flexibility Lack of support for health/well-being Kudos if you’ve developed an apprenticeship or mentorship program and can bring new techs into the industry and get them trained up properly! But don’t stop there! Close the revolving door in your shop by addressing these common employee complaints. Your techs will thank you. And they’ll stay. #Jobs #Staffing #Employment #StaffingAgency #Repair #Auto #Hiring #Automotive #Mechanic #Technician #TechnicianFind #AutoRepair #AutoRepairShop

Stop training your competition! If you’ve ever watched a talented technician leave for a competitor, consider this… Last October I joined Chris Jones on the Ratchet and Wrench Podcast to talk about 8 Reasons Why Techs Quit Auto Repair Shops. Here they are: Lack of career development / advancement Inadequate compensation Uncaring/uninspiring leaders Lack of meaningful work Unsustainable work expectations Unreliable/unsupportive colleagues Lack of workplace flexibility Lack of support for health/well-being Kudos if you’ve developed an apprenticeship or mentorship program and can bring new techs into the industry and get them trained up properly! But don’t stop there! Close the revolving door in your shop by addressing these common employee complaints. Your techs will thank you. And they’ll stay. #Jobs #Staffing #Employment #StaffingAgency #Repair #Auto #Hiring #Automotive #Mechanic #Technician #TechnicianFind #AutoRepair #AutoRepairShop

In a recent post about the skilled trades, I was challenged by someone who said something to the effect of “sure you can make good money but at the expense of destroying your body. After years of work your knees and back will be shot. You’re better off working behind a desk.” So let’s talk about that concept. First, the skilled trades comprise more than just construction. There are automotive trades (auto technician, diesel mechanic, auto body technician) as well as other service trades (food service, cosmetology, etc). Regardless, if we do to speak about construction, much has been done in the way of ergonomics and improvements in the means & methods of the various disciplines. Lightweight, cordless tooling from innovative manufacturers like Milwaukee Tool have made labor intensive tasks painless. In addition, companies are taking initiatives to prevent both conventional injuries as well as repetitive motion injuries. The worker’s compensation industry has made a point of this. But let’s look at another aspect of that comment. Many studies have been done on the correlation between occupation and obesity. In a study of approximately 37,000 workers by the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (JOEM) entitled “Prevalence of Obesity by Occupation of US Workers” it was shown that the leading categories for obesity were Management, Business and Finance and Computers and Mathematics. Among the lowest were Construction, Electrical, Automotive and Production sectors. Another study out of South Korea concluded the Management group had the highest rates of obesity while the Craft and Trades groups had the lowest. Another study based on World Health Organization data simply concluded “Sedentary work and low physical demand jobs contributed to obesity”. It looks like another myth about the skilled trades is debunked. While there is no doubt the skilled trades are physically demanding, it’s not exactly a bad thing. So when you son or daughter tells you they aren’t interested in sitting behind a desk for the rest of their life, stop and think about the fact that it just might be a health benefit. Bring Back the Trades, Inc is a skilled trades advocacy group which provides mentoring, informational resources and career fair type “Skilled Trades Exhibitions”, as well as scholarships for those seeking to attend trade school. Please visit www.bringbackthetrades.org and support our mission! #BringBackTheTrades #SkilledTrades #CareerOpportunities

Your Junior or Senior High Schooler DOES NOT have to wait… in debt with a delinquent loan and a change of career interest during their sophomore year of college before making their right decision. Let’s start looking at the future now, not later. Wisconsin's Youth Apprenticeship program offers a wide variety of career pathways across multiple industries. Here's a comprehensive list of all possible youth apprenticeship areas: 1. Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources - Animal Systems - Plant Systems - Natural Resources 2. Architecture and Construction - Carpentry - Electrical - HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) - Masonry - Plumbing - Sheet Metal - Construction Trades 3. Arts, A/V Technology, and Communications - Printing Technology - Visual Arts 4. Business Management and Administration - Administrative Support - Business Information Management - Human Resources 5. Education and Training - Early Childhood Education 6. Finance - Banking - Insurance - Financial Planning 7. Health Science - Nursing Assistant - Pharmacy Technician - Medical Assistant - Dental Assistant - Laboratory Science 8. Hospitality and Tourism - Lodging Management - Culinary Arts - Hospitality and Event Management 9. Information Technology - Network Systems - Programming and Software Development - Information Support and Services - Web Development 10. **Law, Public Safety, Corrections, and Security** - Security and Protective Services - Firefighting - Emergency Medical Services (EMS) 11. **Manufacturing** - Manufacturing Production - Machining - Welding - Quality Assurance - Industrial Maintenance 12. Marketing - Marketing Management - Professional Sales - Merchandising 13. Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) - Engineering - Electronics - Biotechnology 14. Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics - Automotive Technician - Diesel Technician - Logistics and Inventory Management - Collision and Repair - Aviation Maintenance These pathways provide hands-on experiences and practical training in various industries, equipping students with the skills needed to excel in their future career. Not sure where to start? Email “BUILD THE YOUTH” to: Coachingsuperheroes@gmail.com -Serious inquiries only

Meet the team! Name: Harrison Yorke (known as ‘Patches’) Start Date: September 2018 Career Path: Progressed from Workshop Apprentice to Workshop Technician. Approach, Attitude, and Ethos: I am a dedicated and hardworking member of a highly efficient workshop team. My strong time management skills are crucial in meeting strict deadlines to ensure that test samples are submitted to the laboratory on schedule. Proudest Moments and Achievements: I take great pride in completing my Level 2 Engineering Manufacturing Operator apprenticeship. The skills I gained during this training have directly benefited my performance in the workplace. Additionally, I successfully completed a CNC course, which involved both operation and programming. This experience enabled us to develop a new program for machining tensile samples. Challenges Faced: The uncertainty during the COVID-19 pandemic posed significant challenges, particularly adapting to rapidly changing routines. I found the experience of being on furlough more difficult than working in the workshop! During that time, our team adopted an all-hands-on-deck approach to maintain our services with limited staff and resources. Lessons Learned: I have learned how to navigate high-pressure situations effectively. While we typically deliver results within a 3-5 working day standard, we also offer fast-track and platinum services, which require careful management of each job to meet customer expectations. Acknowledgments: I would like to express my gratitude to Nigel East for sharing his invaluable experience and mentorship. I also extend my thanks to Jack Hayes, Adam Gould and Clive Slocombe for their support and guidance throughout my apprenticeship and career thus far. Outside Interests: I have a passion for classic cars and own a Pontiac Trans Am. I attend the Goodwood Festival of Speed annually. In my leisure time, I enjoy meeting friends at the local pub and participating in clay pigeon shooting. Hopes for the Future of CAW: I am excited about the continued growth at Code A Weld and look forward to the future developments within the workshop, including the expansion of tools and machinery. I am eager to train the next generation of apprentices coming into the workshop. #teamplayer #welding #machning #CNC #milling #turning #workmanship #pride #education

68% of diesel technicians believe their shop provides adequate paid training. 68% of diesel technicians think their employer provides fair compensation. 70% of diesel technicians think their employer provides good benefits. 56% of diesel technicians feel respected by management. Less than half (43%) of diesel technicians think their shop management communicates well. 56% of diesel technicians think their shop has a well laid out career path. all data from (WrenchWay) #snapontools #paccarnation #apprenticeshipsmatter #bluecollar #catipillarequipment #johndeerearmy #dieseltechlife #fieldservicegang #fieldservice #fieldservicetechnician #bluecollarboys #dieseljourneymanlife #cumminsmafia #fieldservicemechanic #automotivetechnician #automotive #fieldmechanic WrenchWay