The Motor industry has opportunities for students from all sorts of disciplines. To help you get your career up to speed, we’ve provided a low-down on what the automotive sector is – and how to get into it. It really is a dynamic sector which can offer openings for everyone. By Dominic Luddy, Sector Careers Manager at Automotive Skills.
Mapping it out
The retail motor industry describes what happens after the vehicle has left the factory gates. Pendragon, the largest dealer group, achieved over £3.1 billion turnover in 2003/04. Other key employers are better known, like the Automobile Association, RAC and Kwik-Fit.
We can break down the motor industry six ways. As well as specialists like vehicle technicians and parts operatives, for example, each area also requires administrators, personnel staff, accounts staff – the people behind the scenes that keep a business ticking over.
Vehicle Sales
Beyond just a salesperson with the right patter, 21st century vehicle sales is a sophisticated business – managed by on-line stock and customer management systems, and increasingly using the web to reach even more potential buyers. Finance is of course big business in this industry.
Vehicle Maintenance, Repair and Fast-fit
Imagine how we would manage without technicians to keep our cars on the road, whether for business or pleasure, and you can begin to realise the importance of this sub-sector. Use of electronics and software for fault diagnosis is becoming increasingly commonplace, and even a tyre change may not be a straightforward operation – special tools are needed for example for run-flat tyres.
Vehicle Body Repair and Refinishing
Think of this in terms of repairing accident damage – this work involves panel beating to flatten the surface, fitting of new parts where appropriate, preparation of the surface and the final repainting. Especially well suited to those with a creative bent, this sub-sector often attracts young females.
Vehicle Parts
Somebody – usually titled a ‘Parts operative’ – has to be responsible for making sure all of the workshops in the industry have spare parts to improve and repair vehicles. Again, very sophisticated computer systems are in place to track location of parts and enable smooth distribution and maintenance of stock.
Roadside Assistance and Recovery
Can you imagine life without the ‘knights of the road’? The AA, the RAC and Green Flag are certainly the best known operators. It takes a lot of technical experience to get into a role on the road, along with excellent customer service skills and maturity to handle potentially distressing situations. However operational staff behind the scenes are just as important in getting the motorist out of a sticky situation.
Vehicle Rental and Leasing
With a strong customer focus and an eye to the tourist market, rental describes short term hire of vehicles. Leasing on the other hand is concerned with the long-term financing of vehicles – often over a three year period. Rental usually brings employees into direct contact with the customer, whereas leasing is generally office-based.
Qualifications and experience
Apprenticeship programmes exist for most areas of the industry – and now 14-16 year olds can get a taste of the motor industry through the Young Apprenticeship programme. We’ve done a big spread on this important entry route – find out all about it at www. automotiveskills.org.uk/ya.
The majority of degree programmes currently in higher education are relevant to motor manufacturing, design and production rather than retail. However many degree programmes, for examples Business Studies or Marketing, will bring much-needed skills into the industry. Typically graduates can find themselves working as vehicle sales executives, or bringing their skills to the finance department.
 Professional Development Programmes in Retail Automotive Management and Retail Automotive Technology are being developed with training provider partners and employers – and are due for launch by 2007. They will contain a substantial element of work-based learning – and completing either of these courses will earn the award of a Foundation Degree which can be used to progress further to honours degree level.
It’s not just about qualifications though. Experience in other industries can be really relevant to getting work in the retail motor industry – especially given that much of the work requires similar skills, in for example ICT, admin or marketing. Sales is a really good example – if you have the confidence to sell somebody a house, there’s a good chance – once you’re up to speed with the product – that you can sell a car, however expensive it is!
Where to go next
Automotive Skills has a range of resources which give people young and old an insight into the motor industry – and how you can get in – all of which you can access or order through its web portal www. automotiveskills.org.uk/careers. You’ll find a course and job search there, plus lot more. |
