Spotlight 15 www.aftermarketonline.net MARCH 2025 The impact of rising costs will likely be felt further with the price of parts to repair vehicles also on course for an increase, according to 52% of those polled, with ongoing component shortages and inflation adding to the mix. This risks piling on the pressure for the garage sector, with more than 40% of those surveyed explaining they will try to avoid passing on extra costs to customers this year. Meanwhile, nearly half of repairers surveyed said recruiting skilled technicians and others would likely be another hurdle this year. And when asked specifically about staff challenges, the majority (55%) said that they had to increase pay last year to both attract and retain existing employees. However, 42% of respondents still plan to invest in the refurbishment of their premises, with 39% saying they intend to expand their workforce. In addition, 29% of respondents said they are looking to review their opening hours this year to offer an improved work-life balance to staff. Around a quarter said that they plan to grow their pool of key suppliers to help drive down possible delays to the repair of customer vehicles. The increasing popularity of new and used EVs is also proving to be a twosided coin. With EVs requiring fewer mechanical parts than petrol and diesel models, maintenance needs are being reduced and 21% of repairers said batterypowered cars would provide less scope for extra revenue — dropping from 26% in last year’s survey, and the high of 32% seen in the same study about expectations ahead of 2023. However, a separate survey by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) indicated that new technology is a silver lining that offers promising opportunities. Top employers in the UK automotive sector are investing in a major skills drive to grow apprenticeship numbers by almost a sixth in 2025, as manufacturers embark on a ‘green growth decade’, SMMT said in a February update. More than £20 billion of investment has been committed to Britain’s EV transition in the past two years alone, bringing with it demand for a highly skilled workforce adept in the latest technologies. From R&D and manufacturing to the supply chain, maintenance and repair, there are hundreds of new and exciting opportunities up for grabs, with some highly skilled positions most in need including design and development engineers, EV technicians and specialists in batteries and power electronics. SMMT said these roles reflect an evergreener industry, with more than 180 different zero emission vehicle models — cars, vans, trucks and buses — already available in the UK and more coming in 2025. According to the SMMT, more than 550 new apprentices have already joined the sector this academic year, with an additional 740 apprenticeships still available. Among the major automotive employers surveyed by SMMT, apprenticeship numbers are set to increase by 16%. That growth builds on previous years, with a near 41% rise in new apprenticeship starts in 2023 alone, according to the latest full year of apprenticeship data. SMMT said this is a trend that will continue to bring longterm, well paid and rewarding careers in the UK over the next decade. *Launched in 2022, TMO’s yearly poll is designed to give an on-the-ground ‘snapshot of sentiment’ of businesses operating in the UK’s service and repair sector. The latest survey, released earlier this year, saw 104 service and repair businesses respond online between November 4-22, 2024. Visit https:// www.themotorombudsman.org/usefulinformation/industry-insights for detailed results in the Motor Ombudsman Service and Repair 2024 review and 2025 outlook. Changes planned for 2025 42% to boost service & repair 24% expansion of key suppliers 21% training & webinar attendance 19% expansion of workshop & MOT bays Main operational challenges in 2024 YHPZPUN WYPJLZ [V Z[H` WYVÄ [HISL 62% recruiting experienced technicians 59% higher energy bills & costs 53% customers skipping routine work Many garages plan investment to improve service and repair experience Motorists expected to cut back on essential repairs to save money
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