Hiring Mechanics

Recruitment is a year-round job

The UK has a persistent shortage of skilled technicians. Waiting until someone hands in their notice means hiring from desperation. Build a pipeline — college placements, work experience and a visible reputation as a decent place to work. Running an independent garage means planning people capacity like you plan ramp capacity.

Write an honest job advert

• State pay range or hourly rate — vague 'competitive salary' adverts attract no one
• List equipment — diagnostics, air conditioning, alignment — techs want to know what they will use
• Mention training budget and progression
• Be clear on hours, overtime and on-call expectations

Assess skills properly

CVs lie by omission. A practical assessment — a known fault on a training vehicle, a diagnostic session, or a supervised trial day — tells you more than an interview. Check qualifications and MOT tester eligibility if relevant. Call previous employers; independents are a small world.

Keep the good ones

Pay matters, but so do tools, respect and predictable hours. Technicians leave shops that blame them for margin problems the owner created with poor pricing — see labour rate and profitability. Invest in workshop productivity so their time is not wasted waiting for parts or approvals.