Shortage of skilled technicians closing workshops
Three independent repairers have had to close recently due to a shortage of skilled technicians, according to Easy2Recruit.
Easy2Recruit, which supports UK repairers with the recruitment and relocation of skilled overseas technicians, said the closures came despite high volumes and steady demand.
However, it said the businesses were unable to find the skilled technicians to carry out the work.
Ambi Singh, CEO of Easy2Recruit, said: “They were busy, had the work coming in, but they couldn’t get the staff to support it. When you’re consistently under pressure, trying to manage workload without the right number of technicians, it affects repair times, throughput and ultimately customer delivery.
“Pressure builds over time and it becomes very difficult to sustain the business.
“What stood out is that all three businesses had spoken to us around 18 months ago but decided not to move forward with international recruitment because the idea felt unfamiliar and they thought it would be difficult. In reality, it isn’t. We take care of everything from start to finish.”
Long-term solution
Easy2Recruit has placed more than 100 technicians into UK roles through its international recruitment model, working with a range of businesses across the sector. The process typically takes around 16 weeks from candidate selection to start date, reinforcing the need for repairers to plan ahead rather than rely on short-term solutions.
Singh said:
“This isn’t about replacing what the UK is doing with training and apprenticeships – that remains essential. It’s about aligning local recruitment with international recruitment in a way that supports the business and keeps repair operations running effectively.”
