Rishton garage turning down work because it can't find mechanic (From Lancashire Telegraph)
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Rishton garage turning down work because it can't find mechanic
12:30pm Saturday 15th October 2011 in Rishton
MECHANIC MAN Autotune engineer Richard Taylor works on one of the specialist cars at the Rishton garage
AN East Lancashire firm is being forced to turn work down because it cannot find staff with traditional mechanic skills.
Rishton-based Autotune, which specialises in the production and maintenance of racing and classic cars, said the role was “a dying profession”.
The firm has been trying to fill positions for six months, and has made calls to technical colleges but with no success.
Bosses said the majority of applicants were ‘auto technicians’ who use electrical equipment to diagnose car problems.
However, the company said it needed an “old fashioned mechanic” who knew how to put together an entire car and the reasons why a part needed replacing.
Autotune managing director Anthony Taylor said: “The technical colleges are turning out students trained to use machines, rather than build cars.
“They don’t have to think about what they are doing, the machine will tell them what to do and what part to replace.
“The original way of doing it involved building cars from scratch, which is what we do here.
"We produce a replica Jaguar, so the candidate would have to really know what they are doing.
“If something on the car is broken, they need to know why that is, not just what bit to replace.
“It’s also very interesting work because we race cars all over the world, so it is a very exciting job for somebody with the right knowledge.
"At the moment we are turning work down, so we could probably offer two positions if we could find the right people.”
The company formed in 1969 and has numerous racing successes.
Anthony said: “Really it is a job for an enthusiast.
"However, when we call the colleges and tell them to call us if they know of someone suitable, we don’t hear from them again.
"It would be an incredible job for the right person.”
Comments(8)
woolywords
says...
1:55pm Sat 15 Oct 11
It makes me laugh when you see how much plastic there is under a bonnet nowadays, not a chance for the gifted amateur to 'tinker' with anything.
Yet the parts industry to modify cars is worth £500Million in the UK alone.
Slap on some tints or a few bits of trim, lower the suspension and fit a loud exhaust, just to fool anyone into thinking that you actually know what you are doing...
I once escaped a speeding endorsement because Ford said that a 105e Anglia couldn't do 103mph...
I wish you luck in your quest to find a mechanic, of the old school, for we are a rare being.
peely
says...
7:22pm Sat 15 Oct 11
useyourhead
says...
8:20pm Sat 15 Oct 11
peely wrote:my thoughts exactly, or offer a tasty wage instead of some scabby offering!
Why dont they recruit 2 apprentices and teach "em themselves ! problem sorted and two kids off the dole !!
Michael@ClitheroeSince58
says...
9:38pm Sat 15 Oct 11
Rusty Bullethole
says...
12:33am Sun 16 Oct 11
Michael@ClitheroeSinHighly skilled my arse, plug in the laptop and charge the customer £200. I have worked 32 years at local main dealers and the numpties(sorry technicians) we have now only know how to plug there playstations in to the cars and out pops a £200 bill to the customer. I keep asking them to fix it not fit it!
ce58 wrote:
I think this story is a bit strange as there are plenty of highly skilled mechanics in the area that could easily do this kind of work, I have a feeling some one wants skills for peanuts something is very wrong here. I'm presently working back in Engineering but can rebuild any car or motorcycle to a very high standard so offers welcome.
Michael@ClitheroeSince58
says...
1:36am Sun 16 Oct 11
Rusty Bullethole wrote:I was stripping and re-building at 12 years of age I'm 50+ now and have lots of contacts that do it as a hobby. sorry but yes we do use computers as some times have no choice! I do this as a hobby not to rip you off but I could do if I wanted LOL
Michael@ClitheroeSinHighly skilled my arse, plug in the laptop and charge the customer £200. I have worked 32 years at local main dealers and the numpties(sorry technicians) we have now only know how to plug there playstations in to the cars and out pops a £200 bill to the customer. I keep asking them to fix it not fit it!
ce58 wrote:
I think this story is a bit strange as there are plenty of highly skilled mechanics in the area that could easily do this kind of work, I have a feeling some one wants skills for peanuts something is very wrong here. I'm presently working back in Engineering but can rebuild any car or motorcycle to a very high standard so offers welcome.
chris283
says...
9:17am Mon 17 Oct 11
mavrick says...
1:25pm Sat 15 Oct 11
Even the computer is not infallible. a good ear and experience still wins the day. i hope they do find somebody or they could always TRAIN someone themselves.