Discussion
Evening all, I'm a ford technician and mot tester, I've been in the trade 15 years now, apprenticeship at ford, nvq level 3 blah blah, growing up all I ever wanted to do was work on cars, every evening after work I spent tinkering with cars, I loved it, but after 15 years in the trade things have got very stale for me, to the point where I no longer enjoy going to work anymore, the job isn't interesting to me, I have a track car at home but I have zero enthusiasm to work on it anymore due to the draining nature of my job, I find it boring, I have zero interest in working in the trade now so I'm looking to move on to something different, I would love to get into engine building/tuning ideally but round my way jobs like that are few and far between, I need a fresh start away from the repetitive daily grind of working in a dealership, any ideas would be greatly appreciated! Sorry for waffling on.
study auto motive engineering? probably a bit OTT but if you like Automotive.......
https://www.cranfield.ac.uk/courses/taught/automot...
https://www.cranfield.ac.uk/courses/taught/automot...
You've got the skills and experience, so why not get a Van and start your own mobile business?
Sure, it's essentially the same thing, but it's your earnings, not just a wage - and learning the business side might stimulate the grey matter. Just a thought. It's often easier to build on where you're up to, rather than starting to climb a new ladder entirely.
Sure, it's essentially the same thing, but it's your earnings, not just a wage - and learning the business side might stimulate the grey matter. Just a thought. It's often easier to build on where you're up to, rather than starting to climb a new ladder entirely.
You've got the skills and experience, so why not get a Van and start your own mobile business?
Sure, it's essentially the same thing, but it's your earnings, not just a wage - and learning the business side might stimulate the grey matter. Just a thought. It's often easier to build on where you're up to, rather than starting to climb a new ladder entirely.
Sure, it's essentially the same thing, but it's your earnings, not just a wage - and learning the business side might stimulate the grey matter. Just a thought. It's often easier to build on where you're up to, rather than starting to climb a new ladder entirely.
That is something I have thought about a lot recently, it's just that fear of taking that step I suppose and hoping the work is always there to pay the bills etc, I have thought of getting out the trade altogether but like you say it's starting all over again, lower pay etc to build up to where I am now basically, I've got the kit and the experience to go solo so it's worth considering, I need to speak to people who have taken the step I think and see what the pro's/cons are I guess.
Matt UK said:
You've got the skills and experience, so why not get a Van and start your own mobile business?
Sure, it's essentially the same thing, but it's your earnings, not just a wage - and learning the business side might stimulate the grey matter. Just a thought. It's often easier to build on where you're up to, rather than starting to climb a new ladder entirely.
Problem is that as a man-in-a-van he'll be doing much the same as he's doing now but without the benefit of being in a warm dry environment. When the weather's nice working outside on people's drives is fine, but when the weather's bad it's a totally different matter & you may not be able to work.Sure, it's essentially the same thing, but it's your earnings, not just a wage - and learning the business side might stimulate the grey matter. Just a thought. It's often easier to build on where you're up to, rather than starting to climb a new ladder entirely.
I should add that I SMART repair - an indy - & have over 10 years experience.
ETA. Even if you were to get premises - suggest you look at the sort of cost in your area & you may find with council owned properties they won't let to motor trade - you'll still be doing what you say you no longer enjoy but without the regular income & relative security of being employed. Falling ill brings it's own problems as a sole trader with no employees as you have to put customers off.
Many try & IME with those who do SMART repairs - either franchise or indy - the failure rate is massive.
You will need to be prepared to work long hours & you are likely to find 'the weekend' no longer exists.
That said, have a look at this website a specialist & highly skilled LR indy, he started mobile whilst still employed & as it took off grew to where he is now. http://www.armsonae.co.uk/
Edited by paintman on Sunday 5th February 22:12
I think the biggest issue for me at my dealership is the complete lack in training, year after year they threaten to send me on training to get my seniors qualification and it never happens, time and time again I ask about it and nothing ever comes of it, feels like they are holding me back from bettering myself as a tech, going on my own is certainly an option I would consider, it's just having the balls to get out there and do it I suppose, it's the fear of failing and not being able to get back on my feet i suppose that makes it hard for me.
I've been offered places at bmw a few times now but the money is really poor, but it is something I've considered, I just feel moving to a different brand isn't going to change the way I feel about the trade to be honest, I think I just need a move away from the trade altogether really, it's just difficult to find something I can walk straight into out of the motor trade I guess.
Craigie31 said:
That is something I have thought about a lot recently, it's just that fear of taking that step I suppose and hoping the work is always there to pay the bills etc, I have thought of getting out the trade altogether but like you say it's starting all over again, lower pay etc to build up to where I am now basically, I've got the kit and the experience to go solo so it's worth considering, I need to speak to people who have taken the step I think and see what the pro's/cons are I guess.
Could you not start small i.e. weekend out of hours etc to start building yourself up before taking the plunge into doing it full time? I would love to be my own boss so would jump at the chance if I had skills that would permit to such a thing. Might find it starts to give you your enthusiasm for all motors back again.Why not move across to an independent or the aftermarket side? I'm familiar from a consumer side with Porsche but I'm sure the same or similar applies to other brands. Lots of the techs start out in the dealer network. The guys who look after mine now do regular servicing but also restorations, engine rebuilds, aftermarket suspension and set ups etc. Some outfits will support race series etc.
If you really like to mess with cars I'd go and do something completely different , I have my own test centre with a few staff and for the last few years I just test with no spannering unless I have to and I still enjoy building my own stuff at home now I'm not on the tools very often . Even with more money at other places the job is the same old s
t different brand .
t different brand . Craigie31 said:
I think the biggest issue for me at my dealership is the complete lack in training, year after year they threaten to send me on training to get my seniors qualification and it never happens, time and time again I ask about it and nothing ever comes of it, feels like they are holding me back from bettering myself as a tech, going on my own is certainly an option I would consider, it's just having the balls to get out there and do it I suppose, it's the fear of failing and not being able to get back on my feet i suppose that makes it hard for me.
I paid for my own training. http://www.techtopics.co.uk/ £200 a day,and well worth it (for me) - There's plenty of opportunity for engine building (IMO), as most workshops will not do this type of work. You could earn a wage doing this if you chose to do so. I fancied auto electrics, so that's what I do now. 4 years really from nothing to somewhere where you have a fairly good idea of what you're going to earn next month.Craigie31 said:
I've been offered places at bmw a few times now but the money is really poor, but it is something I've considered, I just feel moving to a different brand isn't going to change the way I feel about the trade to be honest, I think I just need a move away from the trade altogether really, it's just difficult to find something I can walk straight into out of the motor trade I guess.
Moving between brands or companies won't help the way you feel. I did 10 or 11 years in one brand, was a "master tech" (still poor money btw) and like you became really jaded with it all. Wanted to jack it all in and retrain as an accountant but was persuaded by the other half to give another brand a go who'd be chasing me for a while.
So switched sides and 3 days in realised it was the same s
te, just in a different workshop. Stuck there for the foreseeable as she's just lost her job and looking to set up as self employed in her industry, so one of us needs a steady income!Is there any roles outside of the workshop that appeal to you? I'm doing a bit of paperwork pushing in a morning now, 48hour pre-picks, campaign/recall checks and spec ordering which gives me a little while away from working on cars at least.
I served my apprenticeship as an HGV mechanic. I really enjoyed it but would've loved to work on cars. Anyway, I was paid off at the end and I ended up joining the RAF when I was 20 years old. 20 years later I'm now a licensed aircraft engineer on offshore helicopters and I love it. Still using spanners everyday but also using your head at the same time. Vehicle mechanics is such an underrated profession and unfortunately very underpaid.
Good luck, there are opportunities out there.
Good luck, there are opportunities out there.
Craigie31 said:
That is something I have thought about a lot recently, it's just that fear of taking that step I suppose and hoping the work is always there to pay the bills etc, I have thought of getting out the trade altogether but like you say it's starting all over again, lower pay etc to build up to where I am now basically, I've got the kit and the experience to go solo so it's worth considering, I need to speak to people who have taken the step I think and see what the pro's/cons are I guess.
Don't worry too much - plan for it and do it.You can take all the preparation steps whilst still at work, launch the business, start marketing, maybe do a few jobs over the weekend to get going and then make the move.
The outlay will be fairly small to get up and running and you can add things as the money comes in.
I made the move to set up my own small limited company and never looked back.
I was in a high position (regional manager) with high salary, car etc - but all the frustration of managing people, reporting to the board, budgeting and forecasting etc - stressed out and bored s
tless. Best move I ever made. I take orders from just one person - me. (well and the wife too but hey ho)Go for it. Stop thinking about it, start making a list of what you need to do and get cracking.
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