ARC360’s first online Breakfast Think Tank took place recently, when more than 20 leading figures from the across the vehicle incident repair sector met to share their views on the year ahead.
The session featured contributions from a panel of experts from vehicle repair, vehicle manufacturing, insurance, training and mobility.
The Think Tank invited the panel to share their thoughts on what lies ahead in 2024, and the overwhelming immediate concern was the continued challenge around people and skills across the sector.
With the average age of technicians in their late 40s, it was suggested that the industry had to ‘get serious’ about raising awareness to younger people and other potential candidates outside of the sector of the fulfilling and varied career paths available within automotive repair.
Attracting the next generation of talent has to be a priority for all stakeholders, it was agreed, with a far more collaborative and targeted approach instead of individual businesses operating in siloes.
“We’re not bringing people in from outside the industry,” said one panellist. “We’re all vying for the same candidates and just taking skills off each other. Every sector is facing a similar challenge, but we need to start competing with other industries rather than each other.”
It was also suggested that greater support for independents was needed, with some reluctant to take on apprentices due to limited time, financial resource and unclear futures ie exit Vs investment. There is also a ‘fear’ among many that their efforts will be wasted with apprentices either dropping out or taking their skills to a higher-paying competitor.
However, a lack of new talent entering the sector is only one part of the puzzle. There is the additional and arguably more immediate challenge in meeting existing demands and productivity levels with a limited pool of skilled resource.
“Apprenticeships are obviously crucial going forward,” said one panellist, “but they won’t address the skills challenges we face now and in the next two or three years.”
The next Breakfast Think Tank will take place in March and continue its progressive discussions with people and skills as an ongoing ‘anchor’.
ARC360 is supported by Corporate Partners: BASF, CAPS, Copart, Entegral, Enterprise, Mirka, Nationwide Vehicle Assistance, S&G Response, Solera Audatex; along with Partners: Gemini ARC, Repairify, Prasco; and Associate Partners: Thatcham Research and Trend Tracker.
To find out more about ILC’s New Generation in Claims event – closely aligned to the discussion during the inaugural ARC360 Think Tank – click here or to find out how to become an ILC New Generation Claims Ambassador email liane@iloveclaims.com
