Training 42 www.aftermarketonline.net APRIL 2025 Bodyshops are being urged to help give themselves a change of image to attract a new generation of workers into training and working in the sector. Axalta’s senior global marketing director for refinish, Bart De Groof, said the industry has an historic (undeserved) reputation “for being hands-on, manual, dirty and potentially dangerous”. Young people today don’t expect a job for life but rather will ‘test and taste’ different careers — and refinishers and mechanics have little to no visibility with car owners, so they may struggle to find a true sense of job satisfaction, De Groof said. Add to that, refinishers work in pressurised environments, striving always to work faster and be more productive, yet they hold arguably the most responsibility for the repair as far as the car owner is concerned — how the car looks cosmetically when the job is finished. It can be construed as all-risk with very little direct reward, despite it being a very fulfilling and highly skilled job. In the UK, between 2014 and 2022, the percentage of 22- to 29-year-olds in professional and managerial jobs increased from 38% to 46%, while the percentage of those in higher working-class jobs, including skilled manual work, went down from 25% to 16%. “This is a perfect reflection of one of the main problems facing bodyshops today across our region. “Working with your hands is seen as a lower-skilled job. For many, the cachet comes from the place and not the job; the preference is often to work in a lesser job in a more prestigious organisation, than to have a highly-skilled manual job in a humble bodyshop.” De Groof said the industry must make clear to job seekers that modern bodyshops are more akin to high-tech laboratories. “Bodyshops are no longer like the dirty, dangerous factories of old. This couldn’t be further from the truth, but sadly the perception lingers. Bodyshops have a bit of image crisis on their hands that we are working to help change.” Technical innovation has seen the car paint repair process in particular become faster, easier and more profitable, he said. Modern digital tools clearly send the digitisation and environmental sustainability Bodyshops ‘need image makeover to attract talent’ James MacBeth (left) with Toby Perkins The AA has partnered with Delphi Academy to enhance the skills of its patrol network through a comprehensive training programme. The collaboration combines the academy’s industry-leading expertise in automotive training with the roadside network’s commitment to maintaining exceptional service standards. Delphi said the bespoke training includes in-person sessions at its Warwick academy, alongside access to its e-learning platform. Learning manager for roadside at the AA, Nick Foxall, said: “Our patrols are the backbone of our service and investing in their training ensures we’re ready to meet the evolving needs of drivers across the UK. “Delphi’s blend of practical and online learning offers the flexibility and depth we need to stay ahead in a fastchanging industry.” The programme features courses covering latest automotive advancements including braking, vehicle electrical diagnosis, suspension systems and common rail diesel diagnosis. Luke Garratt, UK technical services manager at Delphi, said the programme gives AA patrols the cutting-edge skills they need to tackle the challenges of modern automotive technology. Complementing the AA turns to Delphi for cutting-edge training
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjQ0NzM=