Independent garages are continuing to feel the strain of ongoing recruitment challenges, with Easy2Recruit reporting that three businesses have recently closed after being unable to secure skilled technicians.
The company, which supports UK workshops with the recruitment and relocation of skilled overseas technicians, says the situation reflects a wider issue across the sector. Despite garages seeing strong customer demand, their profitability is being hampered by a lack of access to the right skilled people.
Ambi Singh, CEO of Easy2Recruit, said the three garages they spoke to were established, well-run workshops that had ultimately become disheartened. “They were busy, they had work coming in, but they couldn’t get the staff to support it. When that pressure builds over time, it becomes very difficult to sustain the business.
“What stood out is that all three 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.”
The latest industry data continues to underline the issue. Research from the IMI shows recruitment pressure in the motor trades remains around 17% higher than the national average, with approximately 16,000 roles currently unfilled.
Drawing on his own experience running a four-site garage group in Coventry, Singh said the issue is one many workshop owners are dealing with day to day. “When you’re consistently under pressure, trying to manage workload without the right number of technicians, it affects everything from turnaround times to customer experience.”
Easy2Recruit has now placed over 100 technicians into UK workshops through its international recruitment model, working with businesses ranging from single-site independents to national operators.
Rather than focusing on one-off placements, the company positions itself as a long-term workforce partner, supporting garages with forward planning and ongoing recruitment.
“With networks like In’n’Out Autocentres, we’re working continuously, placing technicians every six to 12 months as they grow and as natural staff changes happen,” said Singh. “That kind of planning gives businesses far more stability than reacting when a vacancy appears.”
The process typically takes around 16 weeks from candidate selection to start date, meaning workshops need to look ahead rather than rely on immediate solutions.
Singh is also keen to stress that international recruitment should be seen as part of a balanced approach to workforce development. “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 workshops operating effectively.”
Easy2Recruit is now encouraging garage owners to take a more proactive view of their staffing needs, particularly as the complexity of skills required across the sector continues to evolve.
Singh concluded: “The businesses navigating current pressures most effectively are those thinking ahead. The conversation is starting to shift from ‘how do I fill this role today’ to ‘how do I make sure I’ve got the right team in place six or 12 months from now’. That shift is what’s helping workshops stay ahead of the problem, rather than being forced to react to it.”
