Page 26 - Australasian Paint & Panel Nov-Dec 2022

Next Gen solutions
26
PAINT&PANEL NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2022
NEXT GEN ROUNDTABLE
PAINT & PANEL ASSEMBLED A GROUP OF NEXT GEN REPAIRERS FOR A ROUNDTABLE LUNCH TO FIND OUT HOW THEY ARE TACKLING SOME OF THE CHALLENGES FACING THE INDUSTRY TODAY.
S PONSORED BY IBODYSHOP our panel gathered in Sydney’s stylish QT for a delicious lunch that we made them sing for. From country to metro, prestige to volume repairers they represent the spec-
trum of the industry.
The hot topics discussed were recruit-
ment and retention, vehicle technology advances and, remaining profitable. Paint & Panel has been publishing video excerpts from this roundtable which can be found on our YouTube channel (PaintandPanel).
Our first topic was retention and re- cruitment and this is an area everyone on the panel was active in.
Aaron Scagliotta goes out into the com- munity and puts adverts on Facebook to encourage young people and their par- ents to attend an information night at his Perth shop. Youngsters showing an inter- est undergo a trial and are rated by the technicians. Those who become appren- tices work with a technician who is in- centivised to help those apprentices to become productive and this has proven successful. In terms of retention he in- volves his team making sure they know what is expected of them and involves them in how the business is tracking.
Coming from her legal background Sa- rah Karasavilias has a fresh perspective and she sees technicians as doctors for cars. MPSR has been involved in school in- formation nights with Axalta to attract ap- prentices. In terms of retention they have concentrated on creating a great team cul- ture (they’ve won the Best Workplace Award) and they also try to help team
members invest their money to be finan- cially successful and achieve life goals.
Brad Kolich always interviews pro- spective apprentices’ parents to ensure there will be proper support at home. Providing exceptional working condi- tions in his prestige workshops will be just one of the reasons he has so many long term employees.
Marlea Bent has a young team mostly under 35, their team culture is kept healthy by lots of interaction and events outside of work. Check out the YouTube excerpts for more insights into how our panel recruit and retain staff.
TECHNOLOGY CHALLENGE
OR OPPORTUNITY?
Our second topic was how much of a challenge is new technology. Overall what was refreshing about this Next Gen group is that they often see it as an opportunity. They embrace and adapt and everyone at the table agreed that
continuous education and training was an essential part of business.
Jon Christodoulou said that being a Te- sla approved repairer is a recruitment draw card. “It’s become more than a hammer and dolly in your hand, there’s diagnostics and so much more. So our two Tesla technicians are doing the re- sets, the diagnostics and everything on the cars. And that includes the appren- tice, he was out there, he was doing the