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Halfords has set upon a recruitment drive that will see over 700 new staff members across a range of positions added to the group.
The available roles at the retailer include vehicle technicians, MOT testers, cycle technicians, auto technicians, store and autocentre colleagues, department supervisors, and management.
Following the appointments, Halfords intends to continue “invest[ing] heavily” in training to provide its employees with skills to develop their careers.
Andy McBride, group head of resourcing at Halfords, said that the group’s “strategy of focusing on services” has paid dividends while the adoption of electric vehicles has created “new opportunities in our garages”.
He added: “The UK faces a skills gap in electric technicians. As a nation we need to be training technicians at twice the current rate.
“We’re determined to ensure we stay ahead of the game and play our part in helping people transition to electric forms of transport.”
The company, which operates over 404 stores and 374 garages, is partnered with the Institute of Motor Industry (IMI) and DVSA to develop qualifications and training, offering a pathway to becoming an MOT tester and hybrid trained technician.
To facilitate the training, the group runs four purpose-built training academies in Basington, Northampton, Bolton, and Halifax, and spent £1m in technician training last year.
