Motor Ombudsman: Garage staff shortages ‘here to stay’

Attracting and retaining good staff is set to be the biggest challenge facing garages in 2022, a poll has found.

Bill Fennell, Managing Director of The Motor Ombudsman
Bill Fennell

Two-thirds (67%) of respondents to a Motor Ombudsman survey said that getting hold of a sufficient number of technicians and MOT testers was the most significant concern. This tied in to an answer given by 44% of those questioned, who said that keeping the MOT lane staffed to deal with peak demand in the latter part of last year was a major challenge. The peak was brought about by the MOT extension, announced during the first wave of the virus.

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Around half of respondents said that a challenge for them had been staff calling in sick following positive coronavirus tests, while issues relating to parts shortages was cited by 60% as having been a problem in 2021.

Perhaps unsurprisingly a majority also said that increased overheads and reduced profitability had been a problem in the last year, and most said that this is an issue that is set to continue throughout 2022.

Bill Fennell, Chief Ombudsman and Managing Director of The Motor Ombudsman, said: “Our latest research has provided a unique insight into the main headwinds that are being faced by some of our accredited service and repair businesses across the country. The results of the study clearly show that staffing levels and a limited pool of qualified technicians to recruit from have taken centre stage, with there being little sign that this will change in the near future according to the garages and workshops polled.”

 

Published by Greg Whitaker

Editor of CAT Magazine and an experienced motoring journalist @GregWhitaker5

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