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Motor vehicle maintenance and repair

Engineering

You need to be very practical if you want to repair and maintain motor vehicles. You will probably work as part of a team as well as on your own.

 

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MyChoiceNotts

Are you interested in getting a qualification in this area? Look for a course at local sixth forms and FE colleges on My Choice Notts(Nottinghamshire and just over the border). For higher education courses go to UCAS

 

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Vacancies Online

Search for local job vacancies and Apprenticeship opportunities in the sector you're interested in.

 

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Diploma

Find out more about the Diploma in Engineering course here

What does it involve?

You might be finding out what’s wrong with a car, motorbike or other vehicle, fixing it or spraying it with a new coat of paint.

Some jobs are more skilled than others. Vehicles are much more complex than they used to be and many jobs, like an auto electrician, require a lot of skill and knowledge of the latest electronic diagnostic equipment. A tyre and exhaust fitter may not need as many qualifications but must have good customer care skills and be able to work to deadlines. Other jobs, such as parts distribution assistants, are more office-based and require customer care and ICT skills.

How can you get into this type of work? 

Your Personal Adviser will be able to discuss your options with you.

  • School or college - study for GCSEs, AS / A levels, a diploma, NVQs or other vocational qualifications that could lead to a job, an Apprenticeship, further qualifications or even a degree.

  • e2e (Entry to Employment) - if you’re not sure if you’re suited to this job you might be able to get some work experience through e2e. It can also give you extra support to gain the right qualifications, get onto a training programme or get a job.

  • Apprenticeship - train ‘on-the-job’ with a wage or allowance. For the latest Apprenticeship vacancies in Nottinghamshire go to Vacancies Online.

  • Work or work with training

What else can I do? 

 

As well as qualifications, employers also look for the skills
people have when they’re applying for jobs. Here are the
skills that most employers are looking for from you:

  • Information and communication (ICT)

  • Customer care

  • Team work

  • Problem solving

 

Skills

Four one pound pieces

Wages will vary depending on where in the country you work and between different organisations.

Job title

Average weekly salary*

Average annual salary

Assembler or routine operative

£366.90

£19,079

Auto electrician

£398.70

£20,372

Civil engineer

£727.60

£37,835

Design engineer

£699.30

£36,364

Electrical engineer

£801.10

£41,652

Engineering technician

£620.40

£32,261

Metal working machine operative

£434.90

£22,615

Motor vehicle mechanic

£456.40

£23,733

Tyre and exhaust fitter

£346.00

£17,992

Welder

£478.20

£24,866

TV, video and audio engineer £360.80 £18,762

Source: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, ONS 2009

*Based on gross pay (before you have anything deducted) and not including overtime

Note: this doesn't include self-employed

 

What’s happening in the industry?

This a really exciting time for the car industry. The government wants more people to use low carbon emission cars which are more environmentally friendly. This means that as well as creating more jobs building cars, we'll need people who have the skills to repair and maintain them.

Cars and other vehicles have more electronic parts these days. This means that people who like messing around with cars and bikes as a hobby are finding it more and more difficult to mend them themselves. Which means that they need auto electricians and mechanics to help them fix the problem!

We also live in a fast-paced society and there is more of a demand for ‘quick-fix’ garages where semi-skilled workers can change specific car parts in a short amount of time.

The number of jobs in this sector is predicted to grow by 2% up to 2017.(1)

Workers are needed to replace people who are leaving the industry to retire or change location or career. There are skills shortages for body shop work. Skilled workers must be up-to-date with the latest materials and techniques. Petrol engines in vehicles are a major cause of greenhouse gases so lower emission alternatives are being developed. This will result in a greater need for technical and high level problem skills in the future.

(1) Institute of the Motor Industry, 2009

Useful links

See also green technology jobs in the environment section

 

 

Garage

There are large dealerships such as Renault, Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Ford, Seat, Peugot and VW across Nottinghamshire. These usually have vehicle servicing and repair facilities and often have their own apprenticeship schemes, either on their company websites or through training providers.

Nationwide brands such as Kwik Fit, National Tyres and Autocare, Nationwide Auto Centre and Nationwide Crash Repair can be found in most towns and cities. These also offer apprenticeships as do a number of independent garages.

There are public transport companies such as Nottingham City Transport and Stagecoach (Mansfield) and companies who have fleets of lorries, vans or trucks such as RDL Distribution (Shirebrook) and Keltruck (Nottingham, Sutton in Ashfield, Newark and Worksop). All these vehicles need technicians to maintain and repair them.

Around 10,500 people are employed in the motor industry as a whole in Nottinghamshire and around 2,500 of those work in the maintenance and repair of vehicles (1). Nearly a quarter of those workers are female (2).

(1) Annual Business Inquiry, 2007

(2) Annual Business Inquiry, 2007

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Fetch!

Fetch the dog will guide you to websites where you can get more information on careers that interest you.


Jobs 4 U

Jobs4U

Find out more about specific jobs in this sector:

  • what's it like?
  • getting in
  • pay and benefits
  • similar jobs

Other useful links

Autocity

 

 

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