Total People tackles skills shortage through apprenticeships
As the CV sector faces mounting pressure from skills shortages, evolving technologies and the drive towards sustainability, the question for fleet operators – according to apprenticeship provider Total People – is how they can build and retain the skilled workforce workshops need for the future while juggling these issues.
“The technician shortage is now a daily reality for the industry,” said the company.
“According to the Road Haulage Association, the UK has just one qualified HGV technician for every 31 HGVs.
“The need is twofold: bring new technicians into the trade and upskill experienced staff for modern vehicle systems without taking workshops offline for long stretches.”
From advanced diagnostics to electrified drivetrains and connected systems, says Total People, maintenance tasks are changing.
“Operators want practical steps that improve right-first-time fixes, reduce downtime and help senior techs focus on higher value work, rather than a wholesale rewrite of processes in one go…
“DVSA compliance, safety checks and emissions performance remain non-negotiable. At the same time, Greater Manchester’s strategy to move towards a lower carbon transport system is accelerating demand for skills in electric and low emission technologies, especially for public transport fleets and heavier vehicles.”
Using Level 3 pathways – Engineering Maintenance Technician, Bus & Coach Engineering Technician and Heavy Vehicle Service & Maintenance Technician – aligned to real workshop tasks, apprenticeships can be used to recruit new talent or upskill existing staff into fully-qualified roles, the company explains.
“They minimise disruption with delivery models that seamlessly blend on-the-job learning with day/block release and regular progress reviews.
“What’s more, the programmes can be tailored to fulfil business and regional priorities, such as the shift to low emission vehicles and advanced diagnostics, ensuring teams are future ready. “
As production scaled at Tiger Trailers in Winsford, Cheshire, the manufacturer sought a sustainable way to build technician capacity, retain knowledge on the shop floor and ready the team for new technologies, all without compromising delivery.
In partnership with Total People, Tiger Trailers launched a Level 3 Maintenance and Operations Engineering Technician (MOET) cohort – 20 places focused on hands-on skills development across welding, assembly, body build, paint, PDI and stores, underpinned by formal training.
The programme is building a pipeline of multi‑skilled technicians through a structured pathway aligned to Tiger’s processes while strengthening retention, says Total People – a model other North West manufacturers and fleet maintenance operations can adapt to their needs.
Melanie Nicholson, managing director at Total People, said: “Employers in Greater Manchester and the surrounding areas tell us the same thing: they don’t want theory in isolation, they want practical training that fits with their workshop and delivers measurable improvements.
“Our role as an apprenticeship provider is to make this simple. We listen first, design training around live business priorities, make sure they’re accessing the best funding options and then work with employers from recruitment through to the completion of the programme.”
