Automotive apprenticeships are being held back by cost and time pressures within bodyshop, according to a new survey by Apprenticeship Central.
It found that the primary concern for managers is finding the time for apprenticeship training. With increasing pressures around profit margins, KPIs and key to key times, almost a third (31%) identified dedicating time for teaching as the main challenge.
Meanwhile, cost was a serious concern for 28% of respondents. Even though well-managed apprentices can become profitable within a year, the upfront expense put off many bodyshops.
A further 25% cited the difficulty in finding suitable apprenticeship candidates, while 13% said they weren’t sure how to go about recruiting an apprentice.
Automotive apprenticeships
Through its RECRUIT service, Apprenticeship Central is dedicated to helping businesses attract the next generation of talent, with a Pre-Employment Programme which identifies and connects suitable candidates with employers.
Meanwhile, its RETAIN service helps employers keep hold of the skills it already has within its business through proactive retention strategies to ensure apprentices remain engaged. Tailored solutions tackle resource constraints, manage all administrative tasks and handle the necessary legwork to allow businesses to focus on the technical elements of an apprenticeship.
