Last month I brought my car to the nearest NCT centre for its annual check-up. It should have been seen weeks earlier but, because of a shortage of mechanics in the NCT centres all over the country, there was a long waiting list of cars that needed to be tested. When I did eventually bring my car for testing it, not surprisingly, failed the test. Some parts needed replacing so I phoned my local mechanic, John, to see if he could book me in for a repair slot.
John has been my mechanic for many years. He lives locally and is self employed. John has gained the respect within the parish as a talented mechanic. He recently moved location to a bigger premises as his original garage was getting too small. It was always full of cars waiting to be repaired - a sign of a good mechanic. His new set up is much bigger and better, which should help him a lot.
In a strange way the problem about being good at your job is that you get a lot of business so, in order to keep up with the demand, you need to take on extra staff. It all sounds simple but finding the right people is not always easy, especially if you are looking for someone with qualifications and experience, such as a motor mechanic.
Because John had expanded his business he needed more mechanics to cater for the extra demand. This was a real challenge for him. John is not alone in this regard. Many of us have been in this situation before and some are still finding recruiting good staff extremely difficult. Hanging on to them is just as difficult.
Ireland is enjoying almost full employment at the moment and long may it continue. The downside of this, for employers, is that there are less fish in the pond to choose from.
But all is not doom and gloom. There is an option of going down the apprenticeship route. Generation Apprenticeship has a scheme where employers can register to take on apprentices during their training. Apprenticeship employers are formally approved by SOLAS in advance of employing apprentices. Generation Apprenticeship has an Agricultural Mechanics Level 6 course which takes 4 years to complete. There are 7 phases within the course. Phases 1, 3, 5 and 7 are with the employer while Phases 2, 4, and 6 are spread between training centres and educational colleges.
If you are interested in hiring an Agricultural Mechanic Apprentice you must register with Generation Apprenticeship. The Education & Training Board (ETB) facilitate these courses so there may be a centre near your area. You will need to complete an expression of interest on Apprenticeship Online. Once they have received your application and you are approved, you can advertise your apprenticeship vacancies on apprenticeship.ie
When I last checked their website there were 13 motor mechanic apprenticeship jobs available. Visit www.apprenticeshiponline.ie to find out more about taking on apprentices.
Today is the day that I am scheduled for my NCT re-test. I’m hoping that John will have the parts properly fitted and that my car will pass the test. Fingers crossed!!
