Motor firm struggles to find enough staff

From the Telegraph & Argus, first published Wednesday 23rd Jun 2004.

A Bradford business today warned a shortage of qualified motor technicians was putting a strain on its expansion plans.

Car Care Plan - Europe's biggest vehicle warranty company - is growing 20 per cent year-on-year and is expecting to create 50 jobs in 12 months.

But the company, which has relocated to headquarters in Thornbury from its former base in Bramley, Leeds, warned that it was struggling to fill vacancies. The business - once owned by Bradford's Provident Financial but now part of the General Motors Corporation - employs 225 people.

Head of marketing Jonathan Heap said the turnover had grown 25 per cent last year to £75 million, with that expected to increase by a further 20 per cent in 2004. Staff numbers were set to increase in line with that, but warned the company was struggling to find skilled people.

The firm looks after warranties for firms including Alfa Romeo, Aston Martin, Bentley, Ferrari, Rover, Nissan, Renault and Vauxhall as well as large car supermarkets and dealer groups.

Mr Heap said the firm was delighted with the workforce it had recruited since moving to Bradford but was suffering from an industry-wide skills shortage. "Over recent years, there just hasn't been the same numbers of people applying to go into the motor industry and therefore there hasn't been enough apprentices on offer," he said.

He added: "We have always been delighted with the quality of staff we are able to recruit, and we hope that will continue. We have never, though, been faced with the sort of skills shortage we are experiencing."

Christine Gilliver, marketing manager at motor dealer chain JCT600, said it also struggled to recruit apprentices.

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