The Independent Garage Association (IGA) has responded to the Chancellor’s recent Spending Review, expressing a welcome for the emphasis on economic growth, particularly in regional investment and technical education. However, the IGA voiced concerns that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) may have been overlooked in the announcements.
While acknowledging the positive step of the regional and local growth fund and the ambition to stimulate productivity, the IGA noted a lack of specific measures to address the daily challenges faced by SMEs. Independent garages, like other small businesses, are operating in a demanding economic climate and require tangible support for long-term sustainability and job creation.
Jonathan Douglass, Director of the IGA, stated: “We support the Government’s ambition for long-term, sustainable growth, and welcome the renewed focus on apprenticeships and regional development. Independent garages continue to provide vital services in keeping the UK mobile, and with the right support, the independent garage sector can help drive forward the UK’s economic and environmental goals.”
The IGA also highlighted the independent garage sector’s crucial role in maintaining and servicing the UK’s growing electric vehicle (EV) fleet. However, greater investment in skills training, infrastructure, and accessibility for independent operators is necessary to enable their full contribution to the net-zero transition.
Douglass added: “We are encouraged by the Government’s commitment to review post-16 education and the expansion of apprenticeship opportunities. This is a welcome move for our sector, where skills shortages remain a serious concern. Strengthening vocational pathways will help to develop the next generation of highly skilled technicians and futureproof the workforce as the automotive industry continues to evolve.”
The IGA affirmed its commitment to collaborate with the government to ensure independent garages can thrive in the evolving economic landscape.