Broadstairs MOT Centre Director Simon Hooper has criticised the lack of support from Government for the Independent Garage sector.
The Chancellor’s Spring statement did not address the severe shortage of skilled workers in the industry; lack of retention of trained staff; nor the lack of financial support for the constant need to invest in tooling, training and technology to offer consumers choice.
Mr Hooper said: “The chronic lack of investment in our schools over the past two decades, to inspire and attract people into the automotive industry, has led to a critical moment whereby we do not have young people coming into the industry to fill the vacancies left by those who have retired, sold up, or moved to other jobs where their transferrable skills can financially rewarded. The varying standards of technicians leaving college as ‘qualified’ is questionable and lack of interest in training for the modern vehicles and electric vehicles makes a mockery of targets set by Government for automotive industry. The cost to send staff on training can be prohibitive for small business. Whilst we are constantly investing in new equipment and computer software, combined with staff training, in order to offer customers services traditionally only offered by the main dealer – there is no help from the Government financially or with education. There is also a lack of understanding from customers regarding the costs of running an independent garage and the pressure on staff. In my opinion, there needs to be sea-change in our industry where it is recognised for the expertise required to diagnose, maintain and repair modern vehicles and the constant investment necessary to stay at the forefront.
“Many motorists have no grasp of what their vehicle needs and how components impact each other. Governments want to push electric vehicle sales, but we have woeful resources of skilled technicians who can diagnose and repair them and a lack of guidance and infrastructure to support it.”
He added: “For more than 20 years of running our garage, we have supported apprentices and evolved in the services we offer. The financial pressure and stress is great. The industry is undervalued with consumers increasingly expecting quick fixes, for little money, or attempting to do home mechanics which is dangerous. The Spring statement shows the stone being kicked further down the road with no options for targeted support around business rates, skills investment or capital allowances. With a limited workforce, fewer respected independent garages and lack of new technicians coming into the industry; consumers can expect less choice as garages close, longer wait times for bookings due to staff shortages and higher bills from reputable garages who are making the necessary investment. The rise of unaccredited garages with poorly trained technicians is risking dangerous vehicles on the roads, and consumers pushed to cheap, substandard alternatives.
A recent article in Garage Wire highlighted the annual requirement for 70,000 technicians , but warned more than half of that figure had indicated they would not be working in the industry by the end of 2026.
Mr Hooper said: “For 14 years the MOT fee has remained stagnant at £54.85. What other industry can you tell me has not put prices up in that time? We have increased PAYE, Corporation Tax, calibration fees for equipment, increased insurance premiums, energy bills, increased training costs, tooling and so on; yet we do not have Government support for an increase in the test fee. You are seeing less MOT stations due to garages not wishing to comply with working less than their hourly rate, not wanting to pay for the training and annual test fees to retain MOT tester status and adhere to the regulations set by DVSA, and despite the Independent Garage Association’s calls for a change, the industry is ignored.
“The country is only a few years away from a situation where cars will be no more than paperweights, sat on driveways or in carparks needing to be fixed, but with so few specialist trained technicians they will be facing significant delays.”
Spring statement & IGA: