Has the motor trade caused it's own problems?
Discussion
Host of reasons. I can't see why they can't do a scheme whereby the company trains you up straight from school, guaranteed staged pay increases on levels reached, but you have to put up a £10k bond. If you leave by your own choice within x years, the company keeps the money. (The amount could reduce year on year too). Graduates have to pay for thier training, I think apprentices should do too. You already get x years free education, it can't all be one sided. The jobs are there as well, I'm guessing the parents want thier kids to be instagram stars.
eybic said:
edc said:
That's a lot of paper round to save £10k straight from school ??
Agreed, unless they're from a "privileged" background, not many 18 year olds have £10k sitting around.I don't think its solely the motor trade, I think its all trades. The way our schooling is set up is to force all children down an extreme academic route, and into university. I think we are at a point of really losing skills with retirement and no one learning those skills.
The government already have apprentice schemes where the employer gets money, but the criteria to be eligible are difficult to meet, I think asking for any money from the apprentice is just going to discourage youngsters further - lets face it, apprentices don't come from affluent families (they go off to do engineering at university).
Motor trade apprentices came from the tinkerers of this world, the ones out helping a parent fix the car, changing stuff on the drive way - that doesn't happen so much any more (and it cant with PCPs and expensive diagnostics) so the interest isn't sparked.
The government already have apprentice schemes where the employer gets money, but the criteria to be eligible are difficult to meet, I think asking for any money from the apprentice is just going to discourage youngsters further - lets face it, apprentices don't come from affluent families (they go off to do engineering at university).
Motor trade apprentices came from the tinkerers of this world, the ones out helping a parent fix the car, changing stuff on the drive way - that doesn't happen so much any more (and it cant with PCPs and expensive diagnostics) so the interest isn't sparked.
Very good points, and there is no doubt young people are being advised to go down the further education route. But we must do something to raise their awareness of what this industry has to offer. Yes, we know the argument about money but there are some Technicians paid very well. It's all down to training, capability and working for the right company.
greygoose said:
eybic said:
edc said:
That's a lot of paper round to save £10k straight from school ??
Agreed, unless they're from a "privileged" background, not many 18 year olds have £10k sitting around.I don't think most body shops would use them as slave labour, it's not plug and play, you have to train people because the work is quite specific to the trade. However you can the point thatsit not reasonable to expect training and awage,then walk out when you get bored.
markcoznottz said:
greygoose said:
eybic said:
edc said:
That's a lot of paper round to save £10k straight from school ??
Agreed, unless they're from a "privileged" background, not many 18 year olds have £10k sitting around.I don't think most body shops would use them as slave labour, it's not plug and play, you have to train people because the work is quite specific to the trade. However you can the point thatsit not reasonable to expect training and awage,then walk out when you get bored.
However from a mate in the trade: The hours are long, working conditions s
t (cold in winter, hot in summer) benefits are pretty much zero and the wages suck because no one actually wants to spend money maintaining a car but want it as cheap as possible. On top of that you then get mates/family all expecting you to give up what little free time you have (working half the weekend is the norm) to then fix their cars for fk all.You have to actually enjoy eating 5/40 for lunch each day to want to do it.
geeks said:
markcoznottz said:
greygoose said:
eybic said:
edc said:
That's a lot of paper round to save £10k straight from school ??
Agreed, unless they're from a "privileged" background, not many 18 year olds have £10k sitting around.I don't think most body shops would use them as slave labour, it's not plug and play, you have to train people because the work is quite specific to the trade. However you can the point thatsit not reasonable to expect training and awage,then walk out when you get bored.
However from a mate in the trade: The hours are long, working conditions s
t (cold in winter, hot in summer) benefits are pretty much zero and the wages suck because no one actually wants to spend money maintaining a car but want it as cheap as possible. On top of that you then get mates/family all expecting you to give up what little free time you have (working half the weekend is the norm) to then fix their cars for fk all.You have to actually enjoy eating 5/40 for lunch each day to want to do it.
t' when it comes down to it. And your description of the average garage is true, I've been in loads of them. The Bodyshop angle is different though, because this is an identified skills shortage, so some inducement is needed. Can anyone remember prp? and 1.5 rate overtime? It's a pity the little perks of working have gone. The motor trade hasn't helped by the way it incentivises people. I have a couple of mates who are proper mechanics, started at sixteen and can re-build engines, gearboxes (the value of this is that they really understand how they work, not to actually build them now) diagnose complex faults that don't manifest as fault codes and carry out pretty much any mechanical repair. As a result they get all the complex jobs that require investigation work. The guys who can just about manage a basic service etc get all those types of jobs. Guess who gets paid the most per hour, and guess who actually earns the most due to bonus schemes. If it weren't for the fact it would drive them mental, I think my mates would happlily take the no hassle/more pay route
Johnnytheboy said:
The relative decline of the UK and waves of migration.
I think the "waves of immigration" point is true for very low-skilled jobs (that anybody literall off the boat could do with no training) but I wouldn't consider a Mechanic to be a low-skilled job. i think what's true is that there are easier ways of making the same amount of money. A mechanic shouldn't be earning the same as a Supervisor in Tesco.ste pay is the main factor, and to top off the poor money, you have to spend 10’s of thousands on your tools, and then most garages won’t properly insure those tools either,
Your expected to keep buying tools to do the job, when you need them even if they are to do specific jobs.
Conditions are pretty terrible too, Ice cold, or boiling hot. Dirty work, unappreciative customers doesn’t help.
I work in a typical back street garage.... and have done since I was 16, and if you work it out and they put the living wage up to £10.... I’ll be only earning £2 more than that, which is ridiculous really
te pay is the main factor, and to top off the poor money, you have to spend 10’s of thousands on your tools, and then most garages won’t properly insure those tools either,Your expected to keep buying tools to do the job, when you need them even if they are to do specific jobs.
Conditions are pretty terrible too, Ice cold, or boiling hot. Dirty work, unappreciative customers doesn’t help.
I work in a typical back street garage.... and have done since I was 16, and if you work it out and they put the living wage up to £10.... I’ll be only earning £2 more than that, which is ridiculous really
Countdown said:
I think the "waves of immigration" point is true for very low-skilled jobs (that anybody literall off the boat could do with no training) but I wouldn't consider a Mechanic to be a low-skilled job. i think what's true is that there are easier ways of making the same amount of money. A mechanic shouldn't be earning the same as a Supervisor in Tesco.
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