You can fix it!

Repairing motor vehicles takes real skill – someone needs to mend that dent, paint that scratch or sort out the cracked windscreen on Uncle Dave’s van. You could fix it! Yes you could!

The automotive industry is a massive employer in the UK and as well as offering apprenticeships schemes it also employs young people from the age of 16, without qualifications.

There are three main areas which deal with vehicle repairs in the motor trade and there are hundreds of jobs to choose from once you’ve gained a few skills.

You could start your career in a variety of places – a car, motorcycle or truck dealership, in a body repair workshop, in a small, independent garage or with a lease/rental company. The three main skills areas are:

To start as a ‘valetor’ in this area no qualifications are needed but previous experience of working in a garage or as a cleaner would be useful. Starting salaries for this type of work are in the region of £9,000 to £12,000 a year and you can gain qualifications such as an NVQ in Vehicle Maintenance and Repair.

Starting from this point could lead to various job such as: electrical installation technician, tyre technician, car rental service technician or a role within customer services. You could even decide to set up your own valeting company! Through gaining further qualifications you might decide to train as an MOT assessor or damage assessor, then progress to a managerial position where you could earn up to £30,000 a year.

In a garage or workshop there are two main areas where vehicles have repairs done to their body work. Dented panels or any damage to the bodywork of the vehicle is dealt with in the body shop, as is any work involving paint repairs. Both jobs require training to perfect these skills.

Body shop jobs include: panel technician, mechanical and electrical trim technician and glazing technician. Gain experience and qualifications in these roles and you could progress to more senior levels. You could be a workshop controller, body shop manager, an automotive trainer or a mobile windscreen repair technician. Starting salaries in body and paint average out at around £12,000. You’ll be expected to train to improve your skills and gain qualifications such as N/SVQs and VRQs. Once you’re working as a paint technician you can complete your Automotive Technician Accreditation (ATA)

These are skilled jobs and good technicians in all three areas are highly sought after. If you’re interested it’s well worth considering asking at your local repair garage, dealership, vehicle hire or valeting company, for more information on how to get into these jobs and to enquire about doing work experience.

The Institute of the Motor Industry has a great website with lots of information about jobs in vehicle repair - many of which you won’t have heard of but they’re out there – so get looking and get on the road to a really rewarding career!