September 2021

SEPTEMBER 2021 AFTERMARKET 59 www.aftermarketonline.net 16 July: Garage staffing to be decimated by NHS app pings? Staffing levels in garages over the summer could hit critically low levels, with the number of people being instructed to self-isolate through the NHS COVID-19 app rising rapidly. A recent analysis of government data performed by The Guardian has suggested that 1.6 million people across England have been told to stay at home through the system in just a week because of contact with a person with a positive diagnosis. Meanwhile, across the UK, 48,553 tested positive on Thursday alone. This was the highest for a single day since mid-January and the start of the third lockdown. The government suggested that the level of positive cases could reach 50,000 by Monday 19 July, when most legal restrictions in England were lifted, and this was expected to rise to 100,000 per day as the summer rolls on. A number of garages that Aftermarket spoke to confidentially told us that they already had staff absent due to the need to self-isolate, and the situation could get worse. Commenting on the trend, Autotech Group CEO Gavin White said: “Undoubtedly, the industry has been feeling the effects of the skills shortages for some time, but this been exacerbated recently by isolating staff and furloughing employees. “We are witnessing an exponential rise in demand from the industry for our temporary vehicle technicians and MOT testers to cover labour gaps. We have a strong network of contractors, but the majority of these are booked to cover contracts for the foreseeable future, and we are aware that the peak of demand is yet to come with the impending anniversary of the end of the MOT exemption.” Gavin added: “The aftermarket could take a financial hit every day if they have an empty ramp, so, it is vital that any vehicle technician or MOT tester currently out of work remains within the industry and seeks employment, as the work is out there.” 22 July: Ping-demic highlights pre-existing skills shortage in automotive sector With 618,903 people in England and Wales instructed to self-isolate in just one week up to 14 July, the automotive sector was not immune from the impact the NHS COVID-19 app is having on the wider society. While empty shelves in supermarkets are grabbing the headlines, staff shortages in essential industries could be more serious in the longer term. With a widening skills gap even before the pandemic, Steve Nash, CEO of the IMI said the automotive sector may be particularly exposed: "Motor dealers have joined other UK businesses in highlighting the workforce challenges caused by the ping-demic. The IMI believes this latest consequence of COVID-19 simply serves to further highlight the critical state of the automotive sector when it comes to skills. Our most recent analysis of automotive job vacancies revealed that there are currently 14,000 positions that need to be filled; it is not, therefore, surprising that employers are concerned about the impact of short- notice absence for coronavirus isolation. We are also concerned that employers juggling workforce to address short notice absence will put training on hold - something the sector can ill-afford as we continue to hurtle towards the 2030 deadline. He added: "We hope that government responds to industry calls to find ways to manage the situation more effectively - of course we don't want people spreading COVID-19 but regular testing could be part of the solution." Meanwhile, the government’s decision to exclude essential workers from needing to self-isolate if they are double-vaccinated has led to calls for this to be extended to a much wider group. Putting the case for forecourt workers, Gordon Balmer, the Executive Director of the PRA said, "During previous lockdowns, filling stations were identified as essential services. We are now requesting that officials at BEIS and DHSC confirm this same status for our members in the list of exemptions." 1 August: Further furlough changes Garages and all other businesses still using the furlough scheme were again required to make larger contributions towards paying their staff.While employees would still receive 80% of their usual pay, the government would now pay only 60% towards the scheme, with employers required to pay 20% up to the £2,500 limit. This drops from the 70% the government was contributing between 1 July and 1 August.Employers were already required to continue paying pension and National Insurance contributions as part of the arrangement. As Aftermarket went to press, the furlough was still due to expire on 30 September, although it has been extended four times already.