‘Employ more women or risk missing out on millions of pounds’, IMI warns

With one per cent of technicians being female, the IMI has launched a campaign about the risks of losing business

‘Employ more women or risk missing out on millions of pounds’, IMI warns
The IMI has launched a campaign at the London Motor Show to warn the trade to employ more women.

96 per cent of women drivers want to see more females working in garages according to the results of a survey commissioned by the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI).

The research also revealed that 31 per cent of women drivers don’t feel comfortable getting their car repaired due to the fear of not understanding technical jargon and the possibility of being ripped off.

The IMI launched a campaign at the London Motor Show last week to warn businesses that more needs to be done to introduce females into the automotive industry.

Consumer concerns

IMI CEO Steve Nash said: “The number of women drivers in the UK continues to increase year on year; its important businesses understand and develop their methods, behaviour and attitudes to reflect the changes in the consumer landscape.

“There is a massive knowledge gap between the professional and the customer (whether they are male or female), in this industry so it’s important businesses enforce changes such as diversifying their workforce, introducing transparency when describing faults and pricing to ensure all their customers feel as comfortable as possible.”

Responding to the survey, nearly 40 per cent of drivers said they didn’t notice any females working in their local garage on their previous visit, and also said they didn’t know what they were being charged for and wouldn’t know how to challenge a bill if they felt it was wrong.

When it came to choosing a garage in an emergency most said that without knowing the difference between a professional and a rogue trader, they simply went for the closest available and hoped for the best.

Garages must ‘diversify their workforce’

The IMI’s campaign hopes to address these issues and help women care for their cars, give them the necessary knowledge to confidently deal with garages, and direct them to skilled and trustworthy technicians’ in their local area through the online IMI Professional Register.

Steve added: “With over 250 different job roles and automotive technology continuing to develop there is a wide variety of career choices available – the IMI are working with organisations to encourage females to consider the automotive industry as an exciting sector to be a part of.”

To find out more about the IMI and to join the professional register, select ‘more details’ below.

What do you think about the lack of women in the industry? Share your thoughts and comments below. 

8 Comments

  1. I completely understand the statements made here. However, we can only employ the people who apply for jobs that we advertise. We simply cannot proactively employ women and as a small independent repairer I think that it might be thought suspicious if we tried to. The women that we see employed in the independent sector seem to be either related in some way to the owners or to be in very low paid jobs such as delivery drivers, and very little evidence from these that they wish to consider anything else. The huge cost to a small business in comparison to a main dealer of maternity benefits and necessary time off for child care is a major factor inhibiting employment of females in my opinion should they be available.

    Reply
    • John I 100% agree with your statement without me adding anything. Though, I will add that the industry as a whole does not. In my thinking, as you say, the independent sector cannot afford to employ females for the reason you mention.

      Reply
  2. I completely understand the statements made here. However, we can only employ the people who apply for jobs that we advertise. We simply cannot proactively employ women and as a small independent repairer I think that it might be thought suspicious if we tried to. The women that we see employed in the independent sector seem to be either related in some way to the owners or to be in very low paid jobs such as delivery drivers, and very little evidence from these that they wish to consider anything else. The huge cost to a small business in comparison to a main dealer of maternity benefits and necessary time off for child care is a major factor inhibiting employment of females in my opinion should they be available.

    Reply
    • John I 100% agree with your statement without me adding anything. Though, I will add that the industry as a whole does not. In my thinking, as you say, the independent sector cannot afford to employ females for the reason you mention.

      Reply
  3. Well, I am a female mechanic, fully qualified and with just over 15 years experience in the industry. The work I am putting in, is not a joke. I am working twice as hard because people around me always think that I am just a pretty face. Why any woman would like a job where she is not getting respect and recognition from her work colleagues? When she is told to get back in the kitchen and other more sexists comments that I will not repeat here? As a result, I am studying for a degree , to change my career in future. This industry is not worth the effort and there is no room for women, until men change their attitude.

    Reply
    • As a male garage owner I personally wouldn’t hesitate in employing a female mechanic… Finding that right minded female prepared to get stuck in i am sure may be a challenge in this industry however I say “any female who is brave enough to take on the challenges of working with ‘greasy hairy ar$ed’ mechanics must be given a chance in our industry”!

      Reply
  4. Well, I am a female mechanic, fully qualified and with just over 15 years experience in the industry. The work I am putting in, is not a joke. I am working twice as hard because people around me always think that I am just a pretty face. Why any woman would like a job where she is not getting respect and recognition from her work colleagues? When she is told to get back in the kitchen and other more sexists comments that I will not repeat here? As a result, I am studying for a degree , to change my career in future. This industry is not worth the effort and there is no room for women, until men change their attitude.

    Reply
    • As a male garage owner I personally wouldn’t hesitate in employing a female mechanic… Finding that right minded female prepared to get stuck in i am sure may be a challenge in this industry however I say “any female who is brave enough to take on the challenges of working with ‘greasy hairy ar$ed’ mechanics must be given a chance in our industry”!

      Reply

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