Who is Capricorn?
Capricorn Society was established in 1974 to support business owners in the automotive aftermarket. Now, 50 years later, Capricorn has more than 30,000 Members across Australia and New Zealand, including mechanical workshops, collision repairers and auto electricians.
Capricorn offers a range of competitive financial services products, including our flagship Capricorn Trade Account, which connects Members to more than 2,000 Preferred Suppliers. Members also have access to risk protection, exclusive industry events and our generous Capricorn Rewards Program.
We’re proud to operate by cooperative principles.
For more information, visit capricorn.coop
Welcome
I’m pleased to present Capricorn’s fifth annual State of the Nation report, looking under the hood of the automotive aftermarket industry in Australia.
With over 30,000 Members across Australia and New Zealand, Capricorn is uniquely positioned to share the perspective of business owners in the automotive aftermarket industry, capturing how they’re feeling about an industry that keeps over 20 million motor vehicles safely on our roads and in our communities.
2024 marks 50 years since Capricorn began supporting the automotive community. This year, we’re proudly launching the Capricorn Confidence Index as part of our 50 Years Strong celebrations.
We believe the Capricorn Confidence Index is the nation’s most accurate measure of business owners’ confidence in the future of the automotive aftermarket industry. And this year the Index sits at 71.3 points out of 100 points, showing that despite the ongoing changes to mobility in Australia, the majority of business owners are confident in the future of the automotive aftermarket industry.
Unfortunately, it’s not all good news, with many owners continuing to be impacted by the skills shortage. We can also see that owners are feeling the pinch of the increasing cost of living pressure, with price sensitive customers rising up the list of business challenges.
Throughout the report this year, we’ve included case studies from business owners in the industry bringing the research to life. We hope you find it interesting and insightful.
Capricorn is pleased to share our knowledge with you, but State of the Nation is not just our report; it’s a resource for anyone interested in automotive and mobility in Australia.
We’re so proud to be celebrating 50 Years Strong with the Capricorn community this year, and as our data shows, this amazing industry keeps moving on. Capricorn is proud to play its part in improving the lives of our community. I’m looking forward to seeing where the next 50 years take us, and the industry.
Brad Gannon CEO, Capricorn
About State of the Nation
State of the Nation provides an in‑depth understanding of the key challenges and opportunities facing business owners in the automotive aftermarket.
Capricorn has produced State of the Nation every year since 2020. In 2023, a special report focused on the skills shortage was released. This year’s report marks a return to our traditional survey, covering a wider range of topics, allowing us to track changes over time across the industry.
This year, 1,444 Australian Capricorn Members participated in the State of the Nation survey. These respondents represent Australian business owners in the automotive aftermarket, including mechanical workshops, collision repairers, auto electrical and commercial businesses.
Sample Profile
Q. Including yourself, how many staff are there in your business?
85% of businesses are independent
97% of businesses are classified as micro or small 62% Micro (0 - 4 employees) 35% Small (5 - 19 employees)
28.9 average number of vehicles seen each week
3.3 average number of hoists per workshop
Capricorn Confidence Index
Introducing the Capricorn Confidence Index
In 2020, Capricorn embarked on an ambitious project to understand business sentiment, challenges and opportunities amongst its membership. This State of the Nation snapshot quickly became a benchmark report for the automotive aftermarket industry in Australia and New Zealand.
One of the most interesting findings each year has been the level of confidence amongst our Members. Business and industry confidence is often used as an indicator of the overall condition of an industry and is a helpful tool in anticipating and preparing for future challenges.
Now four years on, with sufficient data and insight, we are very proud to launch the Capricorn Confidence Index. This Index is a barometer for the health of the automotive aftermarket industry. It considers responses to three questions: confidence in the automotive industry, confidence in their own business’ future and plans for business growth. Responses are combined to calculate a single score out of 100 points, reflecting the overall business outlook of the Members. We have worked with our independent research partners and data experts, Klein Research, to develop the Index.
With nearly 1,500 small and medium-sized businesses responding to the State of the Nation survey, we believe the Capricorn Confidence Index is the most accurate measure of business owners’ confidence in the future of the automotive aftermarket.
By analysing data from previous State of the Nation surveys we can see that the metric is relatively stable, with slight improvements over the past few years. This provides us with an assurance that the calculation is a sound and reliable indicator.
In 2024, the Capricorn Confidence Index for Australia is 71.3 points. This shows, that whilst the industry is facing significant change and current economic conditions may be challenging, the majority of business owners are confident in the future of their industry and their business.
Over the past four years, the Index in Australia has improved by three points, from 68.3. This reflects a growing optimism amongst Capricorn Members regarding their current position and economic outlook.
We are pleased to be able to publish the Index, and hope our Members, Preferred Suppliers and the wider automotive community will find this measure of confidence in our sector useful in the years to come. At Capricorn, we take great pride in working in an industry that is prepared to tackle the future, whatever it may be, with enthusiasm and optimism.
Note: The 2023 State of the Nation was focused on the skills shortage and for this reason has been removed from the Capricorn Confidence Index. Survey responses were collected in June 2024.
Capricorn Confidence Index
Confidence in Business and Industry
Australia’s automotive business owners remain upbeat about the future of the industry and feel increasingly positive about the future of their own businesses.
Business confidence among Australia’s aftermarket operators is at its highest level in four years. This is clear evidence of the resilience of our owners and managers, who during this period have had to navigate COVID, the ongoing skills shortage and the current cost of living crisis. In spite of these challenges, business owners tell us they continue to enjoy working in automotive.
Despite the industry undergoing massive technological transformation—with the transition to electric and the increasingly complicated nature of vehicles—business owners also expressed growing confidence in the industry’s future. The sentiment is that while the work may change, the demand for vehicle repair and servicing will continue.
Wayne’s Tyres & Automotive | Wayne and Molly
Wayne Higgins and Molly Anderson own Wayne’s Tyres & Automotive in Cunnamulla, Queensland—750 km and a nine-hour drive inland from Brisbane.
The couple bought the mechanical workshop three years ago and have worked hard to establish a successful business, including tackling the challenges that are inherent when you’re operating from a remote rural town.
“While freight and access to Preferred Suppliers brings regular hurdles to overcome, we feel confident in the ongoing success of our business,” Wayne said.
He’s worked in the Cunnamulla community his whole life, completing his apprenticeship at the workshop before buying the business.
“Buying the workshop was a huge achievement for us,” he said. “While there is room to grow, we are already a busy workshop in a small rural town—which is good for us and the town.”
Being business owners has allowed Wayne and Molly to share the benefits of their success with the wider community.
Q. How confident are you in your business’s future, specifically in the next 12 - 18 months?
Q. Thinking about the automotive industry overall, how confident are you in the industry’s future?
“We’ve hired a few young people, which is really important and helpful,” Molly said. “It’s crucial to offer the future generations training and skills, not only for themselves but so they can teach other people in the future. It just helps with everything—for our business, the community and the industry.”
65%
Highly confident in their own business’ future
• Up from 56% in 2022.
• One in ten respondents had low confidence in their business’ future, with main concerns being:
Cost of living pressures, including price sensitive customers
Financial concerns (e.g. cash flow and profitability).
• Owners are working hard to secure the success of their businesses, but are feeling the pressure of external influences they can’t control.
Confidence in own business by business type
48%
Highly confident in the future of the automotive industry
• Confidence in the industry remains steady (47% in 2024 vs 44% in 2022).
• Owners of micro and small businesses are more optimistic than others.
• Larger businesses, which often have extensive planning, procedures and operations in place, were also more likely to find adapting difficult.
*Low sample size; results are indicative for these business types.
Q. How confident are you in your business’ future, specifically in the next 12 – 18 months?
Confidence in automotive industry by business type
Mechanical Workshop
Auto Electrical Panel & Paint
Dealership Workshop*
Tyre and Suspension
Mobile Mechanic
*Low sample size; results are indicative for these business types.
Q. Thinking about the automotive industry overall, how confident are you in the industry’s future?
Capricorn
Mechanic Near Me | Jeremy Drabsch
Jeremy Drabsch owns Mechanic Near Me, a mobile mechanic business in Queensland. Jeremy made the switch from the tech industry to automotive, seeking a career with ongoing opportunities for growth and development. His passion for cars led to an apprenticeship with Titan Automotive on the Gold Coast, where his dedication earned him the Capricorn Rising Stars Apprentice of the Year Award in 2019.
“I felt just as passionate about the automotive industry then, as an apprentice, as I do now as a small business owner,” Jeremy said. “The variety and constant change in the industry means I look forward to what every day could bring.”
Jeremy started his business in 2023 and is optimistic about the future of automotive.
“I have always been interested in, and continue to feel excited by, the fields that are emerging—particularly the technology side,” he said. “Working with modern vehicles and new technology has always been a key interest from me and was something I looked for in my first apprenticeship. I look forward to seeing where the automotive industry goes throughout the rest of my career.”
Business Growth Findings
71% of Australian automotive business owners intend to grow their business or improve profitability in the next 12 months. This is consistent with previous years.
To achieve growth, businesses plan to focus on the following key areas:
• Improving business efficiency.
• Increasing profit margins.
• Employing/upskilling staff.
Since 2022 businesses have been trying to achieve an increased return on investment by focusing on an increased number of areas across their business.
Of those who are planning to grow their business, 69% reported feeling highly confident in their business and 52% said they were highly confident in the industry.
Q. Do you have plans in place to grow your business or improve its profitability over the next 12 months?
Note: This question was not asked in 2023.
Areas to drive growth or profitability
Focus more on how to retain existing customers
Change or expand services offered (e.g. EVs)
Introduce online bookings
Other (specify)
Q. What plans do you have to grow your business or improve its profitability over the next 12 months? Select all that apply.
Being in Business
Business Challenges
The top two challenges faced by owners have remained the same over all waves of State of the Nation. This year we have seen price sensitive customers increase significantly from previous years due to the cost of living pressures. Even though we have seen a decrease in businesses that have unfilled staff positions from 2022 to 2024, the skills shortage is still the key challenge listed when asked about business challenges overall. The constant juggle of work-life balance and finding good staff remain the key challenges facing business owners in the industry.
Finding good staff (including apprentices)
Having a good work/life balance or finding time to take a break/holiday
Price sensitive customers/ cost of living pressures
Increase in parts prices
Balancing different parts of your role e.g. Mechanical work vs. admin
Financial concerns e.g. cash flow, profitability
Access to technical information and diagnostics e.g. scan tools
Keeping staff long term
Shortage of parts
Customers wanting to supply their own parts
Servicing electric vehicles
Insurance companies determining prices
Capped price servicing/longer warranties from dealerships
Keeping up with the digital age e.g. online booking, online quote s
Sourcing sustainable materials and parts
Environmental considerations e.g. sustainable waste management
Customers not coming back/lack of trust
Other
Q. What are the biggest challenges that you face in running an automotive business? Select all that apply.
Goldstar Transport | Sean Carren
Goldstar Transport, a Western Australian company specialising in safe transport and logistics, started with one truck and one employee. That employee was Sean Carren who, 20 years on, is the Managing Director of the business. Goldstar now employs over 400 mechanics, truck drivers and office workers.
Sean said training more apprentices was crucial to overcoming the skills shortage. “People often talk about the shortage of skilled tradespeople, but you have to invest in giving young people opportunities,” he said. “We have nine apprentices at the moment, and we try to take on one or two every year.”
“You find the right people and give the right training and you get the results. You won’t find good people unless you are actively looking for them. From a mechanical perspective, if you go to the go-kart track, motorcross and those other automotive events where younger people are, many of them would jump at an opportunity of an apprenticeship in an industry they are passionate about.
“We heavily invest in our trainee program and we are proud of it. They are being trained not just for our business but for the industry as a whole. Providing people with opportunities and training, encouraging their passions, and demonstrating a good work ethic they can learn from is crucial in working through the skills shortage.”
Skills Shortage
State of the Nation has consistently found the skills shortage to be a problem for the automotive aftermarket. While the data shows it is less of an issue this year, it is still impacting nearly half of all businesses. Fewer than one in 10 automotive workshops have unfilled staff positions—a sizeable drop from previous reports.
As businesses adapt to changing technology and changing consumer demands, it remains a challenge to find staff with the required experience and skills:
• 47% of automotive business owners say they have a resourcing issue of some type: either unfilled staff positions or difficulty finding skilled staff.
Quotes from business owners
“Finding staff and being able to keep them as a small business is extremely hard.”
“Automotive industry will continue to grow — just need more staff to support supply and demand.”
“Getting harder to find good staff.”
“Lack of qualified mechanics available.”
• The volume of unfilled vacancies has almost halved from 2022, from 15% to 8%.
• Being able to find skilled staff who have experience and relevant skills is an increasing problem, up from 32% to 39%.
Resourcing status
47% of business owners have a resourcing issue of some type
Q. Which of the following apply to you regarding resourcing talent?
Note: This question was not asked in 2021.
8% of owners have unfilled vacancies
39% have problems finding staff with relevant skills and experience
Q. Which of the following apply to you regarding resourcing talent?
Australian Collision Industry Alliance
The Australian Collision Industry Alliance (ACIA) promotes a wide range of rewarding careers in the collision repair area, to help achieve its goal of ensuring a sustainable future for the industry. Capricorn is proud to be a Gold Partner of the ACIA.
State of the Nation has consistently found that automotive apprenticeships are seen as less attractive than apprenticeships in other industries.
“At ACIA, we are working to promote the collision area to change this view of the industry. It’s about educating people who are interested in apprenticeships about the fact there are plenty of opportunities for career growth in automotive, and you are learning skills that can be used across multiple settings. The industry is tech-heavy, uses advanced technology and innovative techniques to restore vehicles, and is modern, clean and constantly evolving.”
Sarah Moynihan, ACIA Board Member
Cost of Living
Business owners in Australia’s automotive aftermarket are feeling the impact of cost of living pressures, which are influencing both consumer behaviour and business operations.
Respondents told us customers were becoming more price sensitive compared to previous years—with this now the third biggest issue they face in running their businesses.
Other major concerns facing automotive business owners in 2024 are the increasing prices of parts and the financial impact of all these factors on cash flow and profitability.
Quote from business owner
“I think we are all struggling at the moment with what’s happening in the economy, the cost of living and interest rates. I think we would all benefit from working together more.”
Workshop owners have indicated that cost of living related business challenges have significantly increased from previous years.
45%
find price sensitive customers/cost of living pressures a challenge
40%
find increase in parts prices a challenge
Message from Mark Cooper
Capricorn Member Director VIC/TAS
The cost of living crisis has really started to bite. Demand for our services has started to drop off as customers delay their vehicle servicing to save a few pennies.
As we all know, while this might reduce workshop bookings initially, after a while the tow trucks will start appearing and our workshops will fill up with major repairs. Either way, we get the work—it just isn’t consistent. That makes managing our businesses and achieving the desired profitability a little harder.
If you’re feeling the economic squeeze, now is a good time to revisit your labour rates, charge for time spent on diagnostics and end time discounting. Make use of the technical data and support available and other industry sources to help you with those tricky diagnostic problems and turn diagnostics and fault-finding into a profit stream, not an expense.
Despite these challenges, automotive business owners still feel confident about the industry’s future. It is inspiring to see the resilience and ingenuity of workshop owners as they innovate and adapt to the changing market conditions.
Business Planning
A quarter of business owners in the automotive aftermarket are planning to retire in the next five years. Another 22% are planning to retire in the next 10 years.
Expected retirement
10 years
too soon to think about transition and retirement
Q. When do you expect to retire?
Of the owners planning on retiring in the next five years, three in 10 have no retirement plan in place.
Of those planning on retiring in the next five years:
Q. Do you have a transition or retirement plan in place, or are you working on one, for when it’s time for you to retire?
Q. When it’s time to retire, what is most likely to happen to your business?
AutoTouch Service and Repair Centre | Pino & Michael Priolo
AutoTouch Service & Repair Centre in Perth’s inner northern suburbs is an example of a family business that’s staying in the family. Like many independent automotive workshop owners, Pino Priolo welcomed his son, Michael, into the business as an apprentice. For the past 18 years, they have worked alongside each other.
“Michael and I work really well together and always have,” Pino said. “He keeps up with the technology and industry changes, so I don’t have to, and I bring almost 45 years of experience in the industry.
“When I am ready to retire, Michael will take over the business. It’s a great plan as it means he will continue to benefit from all the work we have done together to grow the business and maintain a loyal customer base. Until then, I can continue to work in the workshop alongside him.”
Apprentices
Apprentices
Training apprentices is one long term solution to the automotive aftermarket’s ongoing skills shortage. The number of apprentices employed has considerably increased since 2022.
Capricorn CEO Brad Gannon says it is vital the industry continues to engage future generations and encourage interest in automotive industry careers.
“Beyond this, it is important we continue to support apprentices through their journey once they are part of the community, helping them to grow, learn new skills and develop,” he said.
“Apprentices are the future business owners of tomorrow and the individuals who the automotive industry will be passed on to. Training apprentices is a solid path towards securing the long-term future of our industry.”
Employment of apprentices
Rising Stars
Since 2018, the Capricorn Rising Stars Apprentice of the Year Award has recognised and rewarded outstanding early-career technicians in the automotive aftermarket.
The award honours high-performing apprentices who show initiative in the workshop, an eagerness to learn and a commitment to the automotive sector. By celebrating these apprentices, we hope to encourage more passionate and talented people to join and stay in the aftermarket.
Gabi Clift was Apprentice of the Year in 2020. She said her win showed that “anyone can succeed in this industry if they put their mind to it.”
“If you commit, put yourself out there and work hard, it will be recognised, and it will pay off,” she said. “I’m proud to now be in a position where I can encourage and hopefully inspire others to give it a go.”
Q. Have you ever employed an apprentice?
Today’s apprentices are tomorrow’s business owners. Jeremy Drabsch, Capricorn’s Rising Stars winner in 2019, has already made that journey. He started his own business in 2023. He said the prizes he won—particularly the course with Workshop Whisperer Rachael Evans—helped him progress his automotive career.
“At the time I didn’t realise how useful this understanding and information would be, but when I decided to start my own business, it ended up being very valuable to me and meant I had a really strong base from which I could build a business,” Jeremy said.
Apprentices
The intention to hire an apprentice remains consistent from 2022, with 16% of workshop owners stating they are extremely likely to hire an apprentice in the next 12 months. A further 21% reported it as very likely.
Larger businesses are the most likely to hire an apprentice in the future. Among business types, dealerships and panel and paint shops are the most likely to take on an apprentice.
*Low sample size, results are indicative for this business type.
Q. Have you ever employed an apprentice?
Q. How likely are you to take on an apprentice in the future?
Badgingarra Motors | Harry Burgess & Megan Toia
Harry Burgess owns Badgingarra Motors, a mechanical workshop in rural Western Australia.
“The first person I hired to help me out in the workshop was an apprentice, and since then it’s something we have always done, rotating apprentices through,” he said.
“Apprentices fill a big gap in the workshop, especially when it is hard to get staff, and with an apprentice you are guaranteed three to four years of hard work from them. And within 12 months they are doing a lot on their own, especially here being a small workshop.”
Harry’s current second-year apprentice, Megan Toia, won the Rising Stars Award in 2024.
“I didn’t expect to get the apprenticeship but I did, and it has been a dream ever since,” Megan said.
“I’ve always loved cars and loved pulling something apart and learning how it works. I was looking for something more in a job—something meaningful
that I was passionate about—and I definitely found that in this workshop.
“I work with some really great people and me being a female has never meant much to them. They just look at me as an apprentice and treat me as such.
Harry had me on the tools the first day; I got to help him take the transmission out of a big truck. So, that was fun, and I quickly learnt the ropes.”
Megan plans to stay at Badgingarra Motors for a couple of years when she has qualified, but her dream is to open her own workshop.
“I’d like to be able to employ people that typically aren’t well represented in the industry—people of colour, people of different sexual orientations, women—and just create a safe space for them,” she said. “I’d really like to take the approach Harry has taken with his business, where you take care of your customers and team, because they’ll turn
“It’s really encouraging for future employers like me to see so many enthusiastic young people at an event like this.”
Mark Rowe, Capricorn Member Director QLD
Capricorn & MTAQ Careers Expo
Capricorn is working with the Motor Trades Association Queensland (MTAQ) to get young people excited about potential careers in the automotive aftermarket.
This year, Capricorn and MTAQ introduced a careers expo component to Capricorn regular trade shows. They held seven successful events in regional and metropolitan Queensland.
Queensland Capricorn Director Mark Rowe said the attendance and enthusiasm demonstrated a strong interest from young people in pursuing automotive careers.
“It’s really encouraging for future employers like me to see so many enthusiastic young people at an event like this,” he said. “It’s an opportunity to share with young people the diverse career opportunities available and for business owners to talk with them about the industry and share their own journeys and experiences.
“Events such as these, along with supportive apprenticeship opportunities, are crucial for the industry’s continued growth and success and secure an engaged and excited pool of employees for the future.”
Women in Automotive
Women in Automotive
Women play a vital role in the vast majority of businesses in Australia’s automotive aftermarket. Around eight in 10 workshops employ women, often in administration, office or retail positions.
While the number of women working “on the tools” remains low, it is steadily increasing. The data shows more women taking on technical and skilled roles. Women now make up 11% of all qualified mechanics— up from 6% in 2023—and 16% of automotive aftermarket businesses employ female apprentices, up from 10% in 2023.
Making auto careers more attractive to women diversifies and widens the pool of talent available to the industry. It is an important step towards tackling the ongoing skills shortage.
Message from Lydia Stjepanovic
Capricorn Member Director NSW/ACT
The automotive industry is a wonderful place for a woman to find a career—and that career doesn’t necessarily need to be on the workshop floor. Those who want to do an apprenticeship and work on the tools should absolutely go for that, but the automotive industry is about more than just cars. It’s about connection with people; it’s about understanding technical problems and providing a service to society. As women, we are really good at providing excellent service, and the automotive industry is an opportunity for women to find a career where they are working in a small business, learning new skills and contributing to their community.
One of the issues the industry faces is that women feel like they don’t really belong in automotive workplaces. Without the administrative team, wives or partners, our business could not be successful. So while these women may not be “on the tools” or in the workshop, these “behind the scenes” workers are crucial to the business and the industry.
It is important that we encourage women to really take on the role of being a businesswoman, and to feel empowered by that role, rather than believe they are just someone that helps in the business. I have met so many wives that have been instrumental in their husband’s business success and growth. They provide real value. These small businesses, and the industry, would be extremely different without their involvement.
With so many women feeling like they are “just helping”, rather than a key part of the business, we don’t accurately know how many women there are working in the automotive industry. It is easy to measure how many women are on the tools or in the workshop, but when it comes to office workers, wives and partners, they are often not included in
Q. Which of these roles are relevant to your business? How many women work at your business in the following roles? Including yourself, how many staff are there in your business?
Wembley Autocare | Moira D’Cruz
Moira D’Cruz joined the automotive industry in 2014 after she and her husband, Patrick, bought Wembley Autocare in Perth’s northern suburbs. Making the switch from a career in accounting, Moira said she found the pace and scale of the industry and the sheer volume of new things to learn overwhelming. But, a decade on, she has no regrets about their decision.
Moira recognised that entering the automotive industry can be daunting but encouraged women not to be afraid.
“It is such a great community and so friendly, welcoming and inclusive,” she said. “There is so much training available and a range of avenues to explore and build a lifelong career from.”
While the fast pace was difficult at first, Moira now loves it.
“You never stop learning and you never stop meeting people,” she said.
Moira said meeting all the “women, partners and back-office support staff” was a highlight of the industry’s networking events, as they’re all so crucial to the success of small business and make a significant contribution to the industry. She says the importance of these roles should be celebrated in the industry.
Female Rising Stars Thriving in Automotive
Four of the past five winners of the Capricorn Rising Stars Apprentice of the Year award have been female—a clear demonstration of the incredible talent available to the industry when we diversify our recruitment.
Gabi
Clift | 2020 Capricorn Rising Stars Winner
Queenslander Gabi Clift was named the 2020 Capricorn Rising Stars Winner. Since winning, Gabi has continued to thrive and is a strong advocate for women in the industry.
“Anyone can do this job, you put your mind to it, and get involved with the right people who want to see you prosper,” she said. “Growing up, being a mechanic was such ‘a man’s job’ and that was something that really bugged me. We really need to get rid of the stigma that this is a male industry.
“Honestly, I knew nothing about how an engine ran when I started out, and over the past four years I have learnt so much about not only cars, but the concepts and science behind it. There is so much beyond the stereotype of dirt, oil and grease in this career.
“We need people in the industry who are keen, excited and willing to do well. I think anyone can do that if they have the right support and put their mind to it.”
Chelsea Bowers | 2023 Capricorn Rising Stars Winner
Chelsea Bowers was the Capricorn Rising Stars Winner in 2023. While her automotive journey hasn’t been straightforward, her commitment and passion have led to a thriving career, where she is an advocate and inspiration for other apprentices.
“I feel like I’m part of something that the younger me would have been really proud of,” she said. “I’d love to have my own apprentice or apprentices one day, and teach them in a really kind environment, like the one I had, so they thrive.”
Chelsea, from Geebung in Queensland, left her first apprenticeship because she felt she wasn’t being respected. She found a much more positive workplace culture at John Edwards Automotive.
What’s Chelsea’s advice for female apprentices?
“If you’re not being respected, move on. There are plenty of workshops with a positive and inclusive culture that will welcome your talent and skills.”
Chelsea’s boss, John Edwards, said: “We treat people like people, I don’t look at Chelsea as a girl; she’s just another worker in the workshop. You don’t need to think of them as something different or special. Yes, you make allowances, but people make allowances for you, too— and that’s how we thrive as a team.”
Methodology
Between 4 June and 14 June 2024, Capricorn Members across Australia and New Zealand were invited to take part in an online survey.
1,895 Members completed the survey, including 1,444 in Australia and 451 in New Zealand. The results were collated and analysed by market research consultants at Klein, one of Australia’s leading market research companies. This report focuses on Australian Members only.
The sample profile is representative of Capricorn’s membership. Capricorn
Our Members
Small to medium businesses in the automotive aftermarket industry, including mechanical workshops, collision repairers, auto electrical, commercial trucks, tyre and suspension and many more across Australia
Being serviced by…
Our Preferred Suppliers
Giving Members access to everything they need to run
30,000+ Capricorn Members
2,000+
Capricorn Preferred Suppliers
500+
Capricorn Employees $3.73b
Member purchases through Preferred Suppliers
Supported by…
Connecting businesses in the industry and offering outstanding customer service, products and networking events.
Thank you for reading our State of the Nation report
For 50 years, Capricorn’s purpose has remained the same, to help our Members grow stronger businesses. We do this by providing great products and services for businesses in the automotive industry directly and in
Want to know more about State of the Nation? Get in contact media@capricorn.coop
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