Page 18 - Australasian paint & Panel Sep-Oct 2021

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News • In Focus
PAINT&PANEL SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2021
WWW.PAINTANDPANEL.COM.AU
CAPRICORN STATE
The ways to grow include: improve busi- ness efficiency (61%); increase profit margins (48%); employ more staff (41%); win more customers (37%); increase workshop capacity (34%).
Collision repair workshops particular- ly struggle to attract young people (59%) followed by tyre and suspension work- shops (43%) and mechanical workshops (37%). Two thirds of respondents had never approached an institution such as TAFE in search of an apprentice but three out of five had been approached by someone seeking an apprenticeship. 8% of workshops have one or two female ap- prentices, most have none.
The report’s recommendations include: prepare for electric vehicles; take on an apprentice; create good workplace cul- ture; don’t be afraid to charge customers fairly for the work you do; invest in tech and training; and have a succession plan.
To read the full report visit: capricorn. coop/SoN
OF THE NATION
CAPRICORN CONTINUES TO SURVEY ITS LARGE MEMBERSHIP WITH ITS SECOND IN DEPTH REPORT ON HOW AUTOMOTIVE BUSINESSES ARE TRAVELLING.
C
APRICORN HAS COMPLETED
the company’s second de- tailed industry study, the Capricorn State of the Nation 2021 report. This industry report pro- vides information and recommenda- tions that have been developed from the contributions of member businesses across the entire automotive service in- dustry. Respondents included general automotive repairers, commercial and heavy duty vehicle specialists, auto
electricians and collision repairers.
A representative group of over 2,000 Capricorn members, from Australia and New Zealand, took part. It covers a large range of issues from diagnostics, electric vehicles, attitudes towards apprentices, work/life balance, confidence in the fu- ture, to name but a few. One issue high- lighted in the report was investment in au- tomotive diagnostic technology tools in line with the advanced electronic sophisti- cation of today’s cars.Thirty seven per cent of Capricorn members are now always charging a fee for the time taken to diag-
nose problems, which represents a 4% in- crease since the inaugural report last year. Two out of five Capricorn Members are
also now using software to measure and track operational efficiency, representing a 9% increase from 2020. The report also found that 61% of Capricorn members plan to improve their business efficiency and growth across the next 12 months.