The vehicle maintenance and repair industry is part of the automotive retail sector, represented by the IMI Automotive Sector Skills Council, which also includes: vehicle sales; vehicle rental; and vehicle parts, distribution and supply. The UK automotive retail sector employs an estimated 514,572 people, accounting for 1.9% of the UK workforce. Future growth for the whole sector is forecast to be an increase of 2% by 2017.
The vehicle maintenance and repair industry covers all forms of maintenance on all types of vehicles. Different types of maintenance and repair include:
- Routine maintenance and repair – such as regular servicing of cars, lorries, motorcycles, vans, motorsport vehicles, fork lift trucks and the diagnosis and fixing of any faults
- Accident repair ‐ reinstating of vehicles to original condition following the event of an accident (activities such as panel beating, re‐spraying, mechanical electrical trim replacement and auto glazing)
- Roadside assistance – diagnosis and repair of faults of vehicles at the roadside
- Body building – the design, build and fitting of bespoke body work for commercial vehicle chasses, such as fire engines, horse boxes and vans
- Fast fit operations (tyres, exhausts, batteries etc.) – such as fitting of tyres, exhausts, brakes and suspension systems normally done whilst the customer waits
Key facts:
- There is an estimated 193,789 working in the industry, in an estimated 37,985 business units.
- The number of vehicle maintenance and repair businesses has increased by 48% over the last decade.
- The number of jobs in the industry has grown since 1998.
Jobs in the industry include: service technician, diagnostic technician, master technician, workshop supervisor, management, motorsport technician, paint technician, MOT examiner.
National and regional data
East Midlands – There is an estimated 15,297 jobs in the industry, which is an increase of 39% since 1998. The East Midlands accounts for 9% of all employment within the vehicle maintenance and repair industry. The automotive retail sector as a whole is set to decline by 4% in the region by 2017.
East of England – There is an estimated 20,709 jobs in the industry, which is a rise of 32% since 1998. The East accounts for 12% of all employment within the industry. The automotive retail sector as a whole is set to increase by 4% in the region by 2017.
London – There is an estimated 15,641 jobs in the industry, which is a fall of 9% since 1998. London accounts for 9% of all employment within the vehicle maintenance and repair industry. The automotive retail sector as a whole is forecast to decline by 14% in the region by 2017.
North East – There is an estimated 7,868 jobs in the industry, which is a rise of 53% since 1998. The North East accounts for 5% of all employment within the vehicle maintenance and repair industry. The automotive retail sector as a whole is forecast to decline by 11% in the region by 2017.
North West – There is an estimated 20,036 jobs in the industry. The region accounts for 12% of all employment within the vehicle maintenance and repair industry. The automotive retail sector as a whole is forecast to decline by 4% in the region by 2017.
South East – There is an estimated 31,349 jobs in the industry. The South East accounts for 19% of all employment within the vehicle maintenance and repair industry. The automotive retail sector as a whole is set to increase by 17% in the region by 2017.
South West – There is an estimated 18,911 jobs in the industry, which is a significant increase of 30% since 1998. The region accounts for 11% of all employment within the vehicle maintenance and repair industry. The automotive retail sector as a whole is forecast to decline by 16% in the region by 2017.
West Midlands – There is an estimated 18,745 jobs in the industry, which is an increase of 26% since 1998. The region accounts for 11% of all employment within the industry. The automotive retail sector as a whole is forecast to increase by only 1% in the region by 2017.
Yorkshire and the Humber – There is an estimated 19,110 jobs in the industry, which is an increase of 52% since 1998. The region accounts for 11% of all employment within the industry. The automotive retail sector as a whole is forecast to increase by 15% in the region by 2017.
Scotland – There is an estimated 13,646 jobs in the industry, which is a fall of 31% since 1998. Scotland accounts for 9% of all employment within the vehicle maintenance and repair industry. The automotive retail sector as a whole is forecast to increase by 1% by 2017.
Wales – There is an estimated 8,980 jobs in the industry. The automotive retail sector as a whole has seen a growth in employment over the past decade jobs, but it is forecast to decline by 2% by 2017. The sector as a whole accounts for 4% of all national employment within the automotive retail sector.
The following data are for the automotive retail sector as a whole:
Northern Ireland – The automotive retail sector has seen a growth in employment over the past decade, to an estimated 13,893 jobs. Employment is forecast to continue to increase by 17% by 2017. It accounts for 3% of all national employment within the automotive retail sector.
