Easy2Recruit has announced its latest initiative will help garages and bodyshops turn underused graduate talent into long-term hires amid the ongoing skills shortage.
The graduate recruitment and development scheme will help UK workshops access job-ready talent, as the latest IMI data shows the sector continues to face a significant shortfall of qualified technicians. Thousands of roles are reportedly unfilled and many businesses are constrained not by demand but by access to skilled workers.
In response, Easy2Recruit has introduced a graduate scheme designed to bridge the gap between qualification and employability, placing candidates into real workshop roles while supporting their transition to UK industry standards.
The programme is said to already be delivering results, with 12 successful placements across a mix of technical and non-technical roles, including technicians, maintenance engineers, service advisors, and sales support positions.
The scheme focuses on candidates already in the UK, many of whom hold relevant qualifications or have experience, but have struggled to secure roles aligned with their skills.
Ambi Singh, Founder and CEO of Easy2Recruit, said: “What we’re seeing is a disconnect between the talent that’s available and what workshops actually need on the ground.
“There are graduates here with automotive or engineering backgrounds, and in many cases, years of hands-on experience from overseas, but they don’t always know how to translate that into a role within the UK market.
“Our job is to bridge that gap – to take someone with the right foundation and make them work-ready for a business that needs stability, not just a short-term fix.”
Candidates placed through the scheme typically undergo a period of on-the-job development, allowing employers to shape skills around their specific requirements while benefiting from longer-term workforce continuity.
The approach is said to reflect a wider shift in how workshops are thinking about recruitment, moving away from short-term labour solutions towards more structured, sustainable workforce planning.
Ambi added: “Garages aren’t just looking for someone to fill a space anymore. They’re looking for people who can stay, develop, and become part of the business over time.
“That’s especially important when you consider the wider pressures on the sector. If you can’t rely on your team, you can’t plan your workload, and ultimately that affects growth.”
As part of the wider offer, Easy2Recruit also provides guidance to both employers and candidates on compliance, onboarding, and career development, helping to reduce friction during the recruitment process and improve retention outcomes.
With demand for skilled labour continuing to rise, the company says programmes like this will play an increasingly important role in supporting the long-term resilience of the aftermarket workforce.
Ambi concluded: “There’s a lot of focus on the shortage itself, but the opportunity is in how we respond to it.
“If we can take the talent that already exists and connect it properly to the businesses that need it, that’s where we start to see real change.”
