Halfords targets over 50s in auto tech apprentices drive

26 November 2024  

Halfords is to offer the over 50s apprenticeships in a recruitment drive for its Autocentres business and is also looking to boost the number of women in auto technician posts.

The company said on November 23 the move aimed to create 1,000 auto technician jobs over the next 12 months to meet rapidly increasing demand for vehicle servicing, MOTs, maintenance and repairs. 

In addition to developing its ‘Retyrement Plan’, to attract retirees back into the workforce, Halfords wants to increase the number of women in the industry. 

CEO Graham Stapleton said: “We all need to do better, not least when you consider that many millions of our customers are women, and that means looking at what discourages women from applying for roles and taking action.

“That might mean introducing more flexibility; it might mean making it more appealing for young women leaving education to pursue a career in automotive.”

‘Second career’

The company is also establishing a training academy which Halfords said will turn “novices into qualified technicians”.

“We want to give people the best possible route to return to work, Stapleton said. Becoming a qualified automotive technician can be an incredibly satisfying second career.”

Halfords has more than 600 garages and nearly 700 vans. The company said demand for servicing, MOTs, and repairs is being driven in part by nearly a million customers signing up for its motoring club, launched last March.

Britain’s ageing car fleet is also creating demand as older vehicles require more maintenance and repair, Halfords said. The average vehicle on UK roads is now 8.7 years old, a year older than it was a decade ago. 

Halfords is also keen to encourage young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to enter the industry. The company has formed partnerships with two charities dedicated to getting young people into motor apprenticeships – The Palmer Foundation and First Step Trust.