Easy2Recruit has reported three independent workshops have recently closed due to difficulties securing skilled technicians as ongoing recruitment challenges continue to impact repair capacity across the automotive sector.
The company, which supports UK repairers with the recruitment and relocation of skilled overseas technicians, said the closures reflect a wider issue, with many businesses operating below capacity despite strong and consistent demand.
Ambi Singh, CEO of Easy2Recruit, said the affected workshops were established operators who had reached a point where the pressure became unsustainable. He said: “They were busy, had the work coming in, but they couldn’t get the staff to support it. When that pressure builds over time, it becomes very difficult to sustain the business.
“What stood out is that all three had spoken to us around 18 months ago but decided not to move forward with international recruitment because the idea felt unfamiliar and they thought it would be difficult. In reality, it isn’t. We take care of everything from start to finish.”
Industry data continues to underline the scale of the challenge, with recruitment pressure in the automotive trade remaining above the national average and demand increasingly focused on skilled, multi-disciplined technicians.
Ambi, who also operates a four-site garage group in Coventry, said the issue is being felt across both mechanical and repair environments: “When you’re consistently under pressure, trying to manage workload without the right number of technicians, it affects repair times, throughput and ultimately customer delivery.”
Easy2Recruit has placed more than 100 technicians into UK roles through its international recruitment model, working with a range of businesses across the sector.
Rather than focusing on one-off placements, the company positions itself as a long-term workforce partner, supporting repairers with forward planning and ongoing recruitment.
Ambi continued: “With networks like In’n’Out Autocentres, we’re working continuously, placing technicians every six to 12 months as they grow and as natural staff changes happen. That kind of planning gives businesses far more stability than reacting when a vacancy appears.”
The process typically takes around 16 weeks from candidate selection to start date, reinforcing the need for repairers to plan ahead rather than rely on short-term solutions.
Ambi added international recruitment should be viewed as part of a broader workforce strategy: “This isn’t about replacing what the UK is doing with training and apprenticeships – that remains essential. It’s about aligning local recruitment with international recruitment in a way that supports the business and keeps repair operations running effectively.”
Easy2Recruit is now encouraging repairers to take a more proactive approach to workforce planning as technical complexity continues to increase across the sector.
Ambi concluded: “The conversation is starting to shift from ‘how do I fill this role today’ to ‘how do I make sure I’ve got the right team in place six or 12 months from now’. That shift is what’s helping businesses stay ahead of the problem.”
