Tool firm marks 50 years with appeal to apprentices

An automotive tool company in Warwickshire is marking its 50th year in business by trying to get more young people to become mechanics.

Laser Tools in Southam has started a new scheme to support those beginning their career journey in the industry.

Mark Bradbourn from the company said the team wanted to address a skills gap and will pick 50 apprentices, nominated by garages, that they feel they can help.

"Our customers are really suffering with a lack of apprentices, so if we can invest the money into their futures and into our customers, it's us giving something back," he said.

To qualify for the scheme, the young people must already be enrolled in training and actively working within a garage, the company said.

The chosen "Future 50" will each receive a Laser Tools apprentice tool kit that will include products to support their career development, as well as the offer of career advice and support going forward.

"Everyone needs their cars repaired and their cars serviced and, at the moment, the way the industry's going, in 10 years, there's such a shortage of people; you'll be waiting three weeks to get your car repaired. It's that serious," Bradbourn said.

"Lots of young people just turn their nose up about coming into the automotive industry for some reason, and there are lots of big parts companies and people like ourselves getting together and trying to help bridge that gap by bringing people in."

Laser Tools has a culture of supporting staff, a legacy left by founder Martin Smith, who died two years ago, the company said, and it also is involved in supporting local community projects.

It has also taken on seven trainees in the last three years, with four of them now fully employed and three still in training.

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