MOTOR RETAIL Gatsby Benchmarks 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Drive your career — in the motor retail industry
There ’ s more to working in motor retail than fixing or selling cars . Here , we highlight the diverse opportunities available and hear directly from young people about their individual career paths .
D id you know that the UK automotive industry has a £ 78.9bn turnover and adds £ 15.3bn to the UK economy ?
Despite being a major industrial and economic force worldwide — employing more than 800,000 people in retail and aftermarket , design , engineering , manufacturing and the supply chain — it is not always considered as a career option by schools or young people . But it ’ s not all about building or selling cars .
Sitting at the forefront of technological advancement , the sector in fact offers a wealth of diverse opportunities ; its retail side ( employing 590,000 people ) is one of the biggest and most varied sectors you can get into , offering a broad range of roles in areas such as HR , administration , customer service , marketing and business management , within its network of franchised car dealerships .
We asked Sue Robinson , CEO of the National Franchised Dealers Association ( NFDA ) — the voice of franchised car and commercial vehicle retailers in the UK — to outline the value and benefits of working within this sector .
Why work in motor retail ?
Sue Robinson , CEO , National Franchised Dealers Association ( NFDA )
What are the misconceptions among young people about careers in car retail ?
Those who are not familiar with automobile retail may think there are only two jobs you can do in our sector : selling cars or fixing them . Both can be exciting and rewarding , but there are so many different roles and career paths you could take . There may also be misconceptions about the role of vehicle technicians . Today , vehicle workshops are exceptionally clean , modern and safe places to work where technicians earn competitive salaries , receive continuous learning and development opportunities and often benefit from shift patterns that suit different lifestyles .
Our industry has always embraced diversity and it welcomes candidates from all educational and professional backgrounds .
What ’ s great about working for this sector and who are you looking for ?
The industry is a fast-paced , exciting and rewarding environment to be part of . The vehicles being built , sold and worked on are constantly changing to reflect shifting styles , fashions and the goals of the government . Also , being part of keeping the country mobile for work , leisure and freedom is pretty cool !
It ’ s unique thanks to the long-term career prospects it offers — regardless of where you start from . Many of the skills you learn will be transferable within different parts of the business and the industry in general . Determination , passion and caring about customers and people are all very important .
“ With more electric vehicles on the road and greater involvement of technology , today ’ s new cars are like computers ”
Are there different career paths into the industry ?
Apprenticeships and traineeships are an ideal route to start a career in automotive ; sometimes these focus on one business area only ( for example , a traineeship in sales ) or you can get the opportunity to spend time working in the various departments of a dealership . There are also plenty of opportunities to start in roles that do not require previous experience .
For school leavers , generally Maths and English GCSEs are needed ; some also recommend science for the more technical roles . Graduates can consider many different careers within automotive from IT to business management and finance .
What roles are available — and what are the opportunities for career progression ?
There are plenty of jobs , suiting a wide range of skills and interests . Automotive retail is like most other businesses where there are corporate support functions such as finance , administration , marketing and purchasing . Also , in addition to vehicle sales , there are financial products to consider , accessory sales and customer service support .
Dealer groups offer great learning and development opportunities , via their own training providers or their brands . As dealer groups grow and change , there are always new opportunities .
Does the sector offer job security and how is it weathering the disruptions — from COVID to digitisation ?
Automotive is a huge part of the UK economy and a very resilient industry . With more electric vehicles on the road and greater involvement of technology , today ’ s new cars are like computers , — they are very advanced . The automotive sector is adapting quickly and so are the jobs within it .
Additionally , since physical dealerships have had to remain closed for long periods due to the pandemic , they have all had to improve their online presence . This means there is demand for new skills , some of which young people already have .
“ Determination , passion and caring about customers and people are all very important ”
gives her take on being an HR and recruitment apprentice at Sytner Group
PLAY VIDEO
CASE STUDY :
The vehicle technician
Jake Grayson , Caffyns Plc
How did you get your first role at Caffyns ?
I joined Caffyns at 16 ; it was quite frightening jumping into a job straight after leaving school . However , everyone was very welcoming and made me feel at ease .
In the first year , I was working under a mentor and learned routine maintenance ( brakes and tyres and so on ). I had a new mentor in my second year , which meant harder work and more responsibility as they pushed me to do more by myself . Year 3 was hardest : it was the first year of having my own ramp and carrying out work without the direct help and guidance of a mentor . Although it was intimidating , it was something I soon got used to and had to find my own way of carrying out jobs .
Was there an educational element ?
During my apprenticeship , I had to undergo a three-year college course . This involved a City and Guilds Level 2 course for a year and a Level 3 course for two years . During college time , I attended theory classes as well as practical training . I also had to complete write-ups about the practical work I had carried out at my college .
“ I get on well with colleagues and have a laugh . At the same time , I take my job very seriously as it ’ s an important role ”
Do you feel you made the right career choice ?
I ’ m happy that this is the career I chose . I get on well with colleagues and have a laugh . At the same time , I take my job very seriously as it ’ s an important role . I have learned a lot during my time at Caffyns and have much more to learn . If anyone is looking for a ‘ hands-on ’ job role , I would recommend an apprenticeship as a motor vehicle technician .
CASE STUDY :
The service advisor
Heather James , Marshall
How did you start your career in automotive ?
I went to college , having previously worked in the hair and beauty industry , because I was thinking about going to university . However , when I finished , I realised that wasn ’ t what I wanted to do .
I didn ’ t have a great deal of knowledge about the automotive industry , but I ’ ve always been quite interested in cars , so I thought that was a good starting point . I went for an interview , originally to go into sales , but I got an opportunity to work on reception , which was brilliant because I could understand how every area of the dealership works . This made me realise the service department was much more suitable for me .
Could you describe your role ?
I ’ ve done a lot of work for the sales and service departments , which gave me a real insight into how both departments work . I ’ ve also done some administration , such as invoicing . Now that I ’ m in the service department , I take calls and book people in for vehicle services . There ’ s a lot of learning and it ’ s really interesting , since there ’ s a lot of technical knowledge you can gain .
“ I absolutely love the diversity of the work and the fact that you get to learn so many different things ”
What do you enjoy about your role and what do you find most challenging ?
I absolutely love the diversity of the work and the fact that you get to learn so many different things . Since I have only been in this role for a short time , it ’ s still quite challenging . There are also so many courses and extra things to do which are helpful that I ’ d like to take part in . I ’ m doing a first aid course soon .
What are your goals for the future ?
At the moment , I just want to be the best at the job I ’ m doing . I ’ m going to take it one step at a time and get everything I can from this opportunity .
What advice would you give people thinking of starting a career in the automotive sector ?
You should be open-minded to it . Do some research into it to see how many opportunities are available and how diverse the whole of the motor industry is ; you will probably find something that is right for you .
IN
2019 THE UK BUILT MORE THAN :
1.3m cars
78,270 commercial vehicles
2.5m engines
Source : The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders
From apprentice to chief executive
Darren Edwards , CEO of car dealership Sytner Group
Today , Darren Edwards is CEO of car dealership Sytner Group , but his career began at 16 , when he left school to begin an apprenticeship in car retail . He explains :
“ My own apprenticeship experience was fantastic . Aged 16 , l enjoyed learning practical skills in my dealership and theorybased learning at technical college . I soon realised that if you put maximum effort into learning and applying yourself , you will quickly become an experienced and valuable team member . A few years after qualifying , I decided to apply for other roles in the dealership , safe in the knowledge that if it didn ’ t go to plan , I could always fall back on my qualifications and experience . This confidence helped me to move into management a few years later and I guess it turned out ok … I wholeheartedly recommend apprenticeships without hesitation .”
Visit DriveMyCareer ( a platform developed by the NFDA ) to find out more about careers in the automotive sector .