Page 27 - Australaasian Paint & Panel Jan-Feb 2022

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ning to grow. “It’s not all about size for us. We will be undertaking a very de- tailed network development plan. We’ll look at what our customer needs are around the country and, as we do that, we will look at where to extend our net- work,” he said. “It’s not about the size of our network, it's about the quality of our network and making sure we have the right people in the right places to be able to execute what we need to do."
Talking about the talent shortage Cooper said the group has a 10 per cent shortfall in technicians which is fine at the moment but as volume returns it will be a problem. “We have to be careful that we don’t get a blow out in wages and that poor behaviours don’t set in,” he said.
AMA Group already has around 300 apprentices and is looking to put on an- other 168 next year. “That investment is so critical for the whole industry and we have a big role to play in that,” he said.
“We’re focussed on developing new talent and retaining the talent that we have. We will also look further into in-
ternational talent when the borders open, as we have in the past.
“This is why the value proposition working for us is so vital – career pro- gression and training and development is something we can offer.”
I asked about the challenges of working on a fixed price model when repairs have become more complex. Cooper said that AMA is in talks with repair partners letting them know what is sustainable.
ABOVE: Technicians at work in the group.
LEFT:
Chief operating officer Mathew Cooper.