The Garage 285

News
Recruitment headaches
can be avoided by most
garages says Progress
Progress Recruitment
Solutions
(UK), the Norwichbased
automotive recruitment
specialist,
says concerns garage owners
have when hiring new
employees are well-founded
but can be overcome.
“It’s not something they
do often so it’s outside the
comfort zone,” said Laura
Rycroft, Managing Director
of Progress Recruitment.
“This can make for hesitancy
when there’s a need for
clarity.”
Many garages realise the
old stereotype of an employer
holding all the cards no
longer rings true.
Skills shortages in the automotive
aftermarket are becoming
acute; too few youngsters
joining to replace those
leaving has seen the pool of
skilled labour shrinking
year-on-year.
Progress Recruitment
first suggests garages begin
by changing their mind-set
from ‘buyers’ of staff to ‘sellers’
trying to convince good
prospects to join.
“It helps you really understand
what you can offer,”
said Laura. “Then create
a clear job role and be as
transparent as possible to
attract suitable people.”
Competitive pay and job
location will always be important
but don’t assume
you simply have to pay more.
“Consider whether you can
bring someone in with lower
skills or less experience and
develop them, so they can
learn habits that fit your
business,” said Laura.
Progress also suggests
looking at other flexible elements
that can add high perceived
value but at little cost.
“Staff training, job support
or mentoring and opportunities
for career development
are all really key motivators
for candidates,” said Laura.
“Can you also support candidates
with young families?
If there’s scope to allow them
to shuffle work and home
commitments occasionally
make sure they know this as
a little flexibility here creates
a lot of goodwill.
“Even in today’s aftermarket
of rapidly changing technology
people still want to
enjoy work so if you offer a
friendly, fun or family-orientated
ethos tell people about
it.”
Once you’ve identified
someone suitable, Progress
Recruitment urges garages
to act fast. Let candidates
know they’re a good fit and
then proceed quickly with an
Laura Rycroft, Managing Director
of Progress Recruitment
offer – whilst you’re ploughing
on through scheduled
interviews they might find
something else.
Last but not least, garages
who feel they need professional
assistance to manage
the process and reduce their
time commitment can particularly
benefit from working
with a specialist recruitment
agency.
“We can help right through
the process, advising on job
description, pay and benefits
to advertising before managing
candidate screening,
short-listing and interviewing,”
said Laura.
GT Automotive Announce Same Day
Delivery With Marathon Partnership!
“We are proud to be partnered with the
automotive giant Marathon Warehouse
Distribution.”
GT Automotive is excited to announce
their new partnership with Marathon
Warehouse Distribution; making the GT
Automotive product range available on a
same day service for the first time.
Marathon Warehouse Distribution is one
of the largest distribution platforms in the
UK and vastly increases the reach of our
products to the UK motor factor industry
and also the speed at which customers can
get our products! Our crankshaft pulleys
are Empower certified and fully stocked
in all Marathon distribution centres;
meaning they are already available at
the click of a button through Marathons
highly efficient ordering system.
In launching our crankshaft pulleys
to their huge customer base, Marathon
have recognised the fantastic quality
and price point of GT Automotive
products. Combining our OE quality
and competitive Aftermarket pricing with
Marathons fantastic same day business
model is another huge step forward for
GT Automotive on our road to becoming a
major force in the Aftermarket industry.
GT Automotive will be expanding it’s
range available through Marathon so
watch this space!
If you want any more information about
our product range or where our products
are available, please contact us on 01608
645 950 or info@gtautomotiveparts.co.uk.
6 News.indd 1 09/11/2018 15:36