GCA calls on industry to tackle skills shortage head on at UK Garage and Bodyshop Event

Date: Friday 24 June 2022

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As a keen commentator and advisor on the ongoing skills gap that the automotive aftermarket is currently experiencing, specialist recruiter Glen Callum Associates (GCA) recently stepped up to share its own industry insights at the one-of-a-kind, national UK Garage and Bodyshop Event.

GCA director, Glen Shepherd, took to the seminar stand on day one, joining a panel of other established industry professionals to discuss recruitment issues and opportunities in the aftermarket, while focusing on how to bring talented people into the aftermarket.

Hosted by CAT magazine in the EV and Hybrid Training Zone, the panel was made up of a vibrant mix of industry specialists, including Hayley Pells, owner of garage Avia Autos, Gavin White, CEO of AutoTech Group and David Reece founder of School of Thought, all sharing their unique experiences and advice on how best to overcome the skills shortage.

The panel generated a lively discussion, attracting a large crowd while imparting some key pearls of wisdom. Shepherd shed light on some interesting topics, offering tips on how businesses can structure their recruitment strategies to best effect, while pointing to the importance of actively engaging with candidates, openly sharing cultural information about their business and keeping the candidate updated at all stages, making the business, and job role in question, more attractive.

Enthused about the opportunities available, Shepherd commented:

“It’s all about education. Recruitment is no longer just about placing an advert; companies need to actively engage with candidates and build recruitment strategies into their businesses to make their companies instantly more appealing. There’s a pool of talent out there waiting to engage, but it’s equally important to keep their attention once you’ve made contact.”

Over the two days of the event the training hubs provided more than 100 hours of talks and seminars across its workshop, bodyshop, EV and Hybrid training areas, providing key insights on the rapidly changing outlook of the automotive industry.

Talking about new and exciting technology and services entering the market, Glen said:

“Gearing up for modern skills is key, whether a business is small, medium or a large corporate. There’s a huge opportunity to bring in people from outside the industry, as well as investing in the next generation. Looking further afield and considering professionals with transferable skills is a great way of starting to eradicate the skills shortage within the aftermarket and expanding our talent pool.”

It’s all about finding the balance of young people and bringing in outside talent with the skills needed,” Shepherd determined.

When questioned, what's the magic fix to the current skills shortage, Glen responded:

"With hiring and recruiting, it's all about winning over their hearts and minds, whether they're an experienced professional or an apprentice. A recent GCA survey found that, surprisingly, joining a vibrant business culture outweighs salary."

Shepherd concluded by once again calling on businesses to be proactive and adopt a forward-thinking approach when it comes to recruitment.

“We need to modernise what we do as an industry, as this is an industry issue, not just recruitment, and we need to work collectively to find a solution. However, companies can only achieve this by putting in the right level of investment and support and by making their recruitment strategy part of their overall business mechanism.”

For more information on how to build a recruitment strategy that works specifically for your business’ requirements, visit glencallum.co.uk/contact-us 

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