Open Book for locum auto-mechanics...

By providing advice and financial support, the Digital Development Unit has helped Blackburn based car servicing company Open Book Cars Ltd to implement a specialist database that provides a locum service for garage owners seeking short notice access to experienced mechanics and MOT testers.

By providing advice and financial support, the Digital Development Unit has helped Blackburn based car servicing company Open Book Cars Ltd to implement a specialist database that provides a locum service for garage owners seeking short notice access to experienced mechanics and MOT testers.

There is an acute shortage of skilled mechanics in the UK, particularly for MOT Testers and qualified / dealer trained mechanics. This shortage ramps up wages and salaries and makes staff retention very difficult causing dealerships and independent service centres to manage customer jobs with a minimum number of staff. The potential for loss of income through staff absence is enormous (approx £300 per day); currently most dealers will take a customers car to another local competitor rather than lose the customer, even if it means no profit for that given work. As with any other trade in demand, there is also a tendency for good mechanics to set up on their own, further exacerbating the situation.

As a potential victim of the skill shortage, Open Book Cars identified the opportunity to leverage on its existing customer base of over 15000 dealers to kick start a brand new locum database service that could provide an alternate income stream. Research has shown that most dealerships and garages would welcome a source of qualified staff that they can pay for on a day rate basis to support a core nucleus of competent staff. Mechanics and MOT testers have also shown an interest in this type of service as it would mean they can increase their earnings without having to bear the cost of premises and setting up a garage themselves (increased earnings being the main motivator for most mechanics to go self employed).

Open Book anticipate that once the service is established, 3 telesales people will need to be employed first year to manage the customers and sales enquiries.