News

FINDING GOOD HELP

If you’re finding it hard to attract and keep good, skilled employees, you’re not alone

Capricorn’s State of the Nation Report 2021 found 53 percent of Capricorn Members are very or extremely concerned about the skills shortage, with 43 percent naming it a top five challenge affecting their business. The harsh reality facing the automotive industry in 2021 is that qualified technicians are in short supply and, unless we urgently work to tackle the problem now, the situation is only going to get worse. How do we attract good people when, to take an example, the mining and resources industry (which is moving into a boom phase) can offer six-figure salaries? In fact, there’s a lot we can do—both at an individual business level and an industry level. Our biggest opportunity is to encourage a new generation of talent, as this is our pipeline for the future. But first, we’ll need a change of attitude. State of the Nation found less than half of us believe young people will find the automotive industry an attractive place to make a career. We must reframe our messaging around this, because automotive is a fantastic industry with lots of incredible opportunities and an exciting future. It’s time to start talking up careers in auto and stop talking them down. How do we make the careers we’re selling more attractive? We can start by creating workplaces with strong and positive cultures – the kind of places young people want to work these days. We can tackle pay rates, too. The opportunity here is to review charge-out rates for labour. Ensuring that we are charging what our skills and experience are worth means we can pay our staff more. If you were ever considering bringing on an apprentice, now’s the time to do it. Not just because there’s a lot of support available, but because our industry desperately needs them. We need new apprentices. Without them, this skills shortage will roll on and on, into the future, with no end in sight. The State of the Nation report is full of insights and advice to help you build a stronger business. If you are interested learning more about how you can benefit by joining Capricorn, I encourage you to email join@capricorn.coop to arrange a visit from your local Capricorn representative. Yours cooperatively, David Fraser Group CEO, Capricorn Society Ltd For more on Capricorn Society membership, visit www.capricorn.coop

TOOLS TO HELP GROW YOUR BUSINESS

From the AAAA

Whether you are running a small business or managing a large company, it is important to be armed with the information you need to make informed decisions for the health and growth of your business. The AAAA continues to invest in targeted market research and business tools for our members. Two important tools that can help your business are as follows. The AAAA Car Parc Data Tool is arguably the most powerful, and popular member research and growth tool for the aftermarket. It helps you better understand your target market, find new customers and grow your business. It offers national level data for manufacturers and distributors, as well as local area information for workshops and retailers. For example, if you are a workshop looking to move to a different location, or a retail chain wanting to expand to multiple locations, the Car Parc Data tool will provide insight into the demographics of each area, and the numbers and types of vehicles within those areas to assist business decisions. You could search for the average age and income of people in Newcastle or St Kilda, find out how many cars per household they have, the age of the Car Parc and the top models of vehicle in that area. The Workshop Health Check is a great, easyto-use comparison tool for workshops. In only a few minutes you can find out how your business is tracking via a benchmarked report based on real industry data. The AAAA says it finds this tool is a great starting place for businesses wanting to improve efficiency or start to grow their business. To learn more about the Car Parc Data Tool, visit www.aaaa.com.au/car-parc-data/ To learn more about the Workshop Health Check, visit www.aaaa.com.au/service-modification/ workshop-health-check/

ASBESTOS SAFETY

The Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency has recently published a brochure

The brochure features a series of important information about asbestos safety in the automotive industry. Asbestos can be found in machinery parts in vehicles manufactured (or with replaced parts) before 2003. Inhaling even small amounts of asbestos fibres can cause serious diseases such as lung cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma. Asbestos fibres can be released by friable asbestos material or by damaged non-friable material. If you suspect that a material may contain asbestos, you should have a sample tested by a National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) accredited lab. Asbestos can contribute to an unsafe working environment, and workers who carry out asbestos-related work must be trained in asbestos identification, safe handling and control measures. To read the brochure, go to www.asbestossafety.gov.au For other related information, you can visit your State or Territory’s WorkSafe website.