Easy2Recruit’s all-new Student2Skill international graduate placement programme has seen its first candidate trained up, and the company says the scheme could be a game-changer for the staff-starved garage sector.
Easy2Recruit, the agency already helping garages hire overseas talent, set up Student2Skill to place international students in garages on a part-time basis earlier this year. This further initiative has been established so international students with the right skills who have completed their studies in the UK can be paired with garages where they work full-time for at least six months.
“These graduates are not just academically strong,” said Easy2Recruit founder Ambi Singh, “they also have a solid foundation in mechanical engineering, and are eager to dive into hands-on technical work.” For this reason, the programme focuses on graduates holding a Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) qualification
There is a major potential labour pool in the overseas student population, which continues to grow. Numbers rose from 442,000 in 2014/15 to 680,000 in 2022/23, according to figures from Studying-in-UK.org.
Ambi also owns and operates the Binley Woods Service Centre group based in Coventry, where the company put the candidate through two months of intensive training. He has now completed this and will follow-up with MOT tester training. “This is proof that this scheme works,” said Ambi. “It could be a fantastic opportunity for many garages in the industry to partner with us, which will benefit the whole of the automotive aftermarket.”
International students are an untapped staffing goldmine for many reasons. “These graduates already have the right to work in the UK,” said Ambi, “so sponsorship should not be a concern.” Training is central to the programme: “To ensure they hit the ground running; we are putting candidates through NVQ3 certification. By the time they join a garage as junior technicians, they are fully certified, skilled, and ready to contribute.”
Candidates work for a garage for six months for a probationary period at minimum wage. “This gives garages the chance to see how well they fit into the team,” said Ambi. “If it is a good fit, sponsorship for a five-year visa is already built into the plan, with Easy2Recruit handling all the details.”
With garage staff shortages set to be a concern for many years to come, the scheme means the sector has access to people with the right skills: “This is the way to supercharge the growth of grassroots apprentices and save the automotive world,” said Ambi.
Ambi Singh will be speaking about the Student2Skill international graduate placement programme at the Aftermarket Event show on 2nd-3rd October. Garages can also find out more from Easy2Recruit when they exhibit at Mechanex Sandown Park, being held 12th-13th November.
Garages wanting to find out more about Easy2Recruit’s innovative staffing solutions, including Student2Skill international graduate placement programme, should visit: www.easy2recruit.co.uk.
