Comment: Why is our industry still totally unregulated?

GW columnist, Caroline Lake expresses her anger over the government’s reluctance to consider licensing

Comment: Why is our industry still totally unregulated?
Founder of Norwich-based Caroline’s Cars and GW columnist, Caroline Lake.

Writing in her column in the latest issue of GW Views, Caroline Lake said: “A few weeks ago, I had my boiler serviced and the nice engineer duly showed me his ID and Gas Safe certificate.

“A few weeks before that, I had my chimney swept and the lovely young chap proudly showed me his accreditations.

“I previously had no idea there was such a thing as a Guild of Master Chimney Sweeps, but I tried to look suitably impressed.

“So what, I hear you cry, has this to do with the garage industry?

“Well, I am amazed and shocked – in fact horrified – that our industry is still totally unregulated.

“Any Tom, Dick or indeed Harriet, can set up a garage with no qualifications, experience or knowledge of anything.

“No licencing or regulation required.

“Anyone can work in a garage and private punters can happily, and often dangerously, work on their own cars.

“My Mother, could set up in her garden shed tomorrow and call it ‘Mum’s Motors’ (pull quote) – no problem.

“Except there is a huge problem…”

This extracted article first featured in Garage Wire Views, click here to continue reading as Caroline shares her anger over the lack of industry licensing…

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14 Comments

  1. I feel Carolines anger too. More needs to be done to bring the industry out of the dark ages and in line with other industries that are regulated, but we need to join together and force the issue.

    Reply
  2. I feel Carolines anger too. More needs to be done to bring the industry out of the dark ages and in line with other industries that are regulated, but we need to join together and force the issue.

    Reply
  3. The nearest to regulation is to either be listed on the IMI Professional Register or to subscribe to a CTSI approved Code scheme like The Motor Ombudsman or Trust My Garage. Not perfect but at least a measurable sign of quality.

    Reply
    • WOW if the Motor Codes or whatever they call themselves these days is being used as a quality barometer then God help us.

      Reply
  4. The nearest to regulation is to either be listed on the IMI Professional Register or to subscribe to a CTSI approved Code scheme like The Motor Ombudsman or Trust My Garage. Not perfect but at least a measurable sign of quality.

    Reply
    • WOW if the Motor Codes or whatever they call themselves these days is being used as a quality barometer then God help us.

      Reply
  5. I totally agree & have made comment to this fact many times over the years in this trade. In the early 70’s my college lecturer told me we would soon be regulated & only certified people would work on vehicles the same as it was in Germany all those years ago. We have all seen the result of poor & dangerous repairs carried out by ” back street repairers ” Also MOT test should be set fee & no discounting.

    Reply
    • I agree with the MOT discounting! Should be same price, you can’t tell people that all the cheaper ones are doing it cheaper for a reason!

      Reply
  6. I totally agree & have made comment to this fact many times over the years in this trade. In the early 70’s my college lecturer told me we would soon be regulated & only certified people would work on vehicles the same as it was in Germany all those years ago. We have all seen the result of poor & dangerous repairs carried out by ” back street repairers ” Also MOT test should be set fee & no discounting.

    Reply
    • I agree with the MOT discounting! Should be same price, you can’t tell people that all the cheaper ones are doing it cheaper for a reason!

      Reply
  7. Well I don’t know about over your way but over here, when you finish serving your apprenticeship you get a card as well as a certificate. I keep mine in my wallet so if anybody queries my qualifications I have it to show.

    Reply
  8. Well I don’t know about over your way but over here, when you finish serving your apprenticeship you get a card as well as a certificate. I keep mine in my wallet so if anybody queries my qualifications I have it to show.

    Reply
  9. Surely with the technology involved in all vehicles even from entry models being so safety critical and in control of the vehicles major features why HASN’T the industry introduced this to safeguard the end users, miss fix’s and assumed knowledge repairs are now putting lives at risk.

    Reply
  10. Surely with the technology involved in all vehicles even from entry models being so safety critical and in control of the vehicles major features why HASN’T the industry introduced this to safeguard the end users, miss fix’s and assumed knowledge repairs are now putting lives at risk.

    Reply

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