Are you interested in finding mechanic jobs? Becoming a mechanic can be difficult, but financially rewarding. With an average salary of £31,000, it’s no wonder so many people try to become self-employed mechanics every year
Becoming a mechanic
Training as a mechanic can take as little as 2 years. Similar to carpentry, it’s a job where your ability is entirely based on experience. It isn’t necessary to get qualifications, though they are available.
Training
For motor vehicle mechanics, there are a few options. These include apprenticeships, work experience, and being self-taught.
When looking to do an apprenticeship, keep in mind the level and length of the course. You might be able to earn while doing this too. A beginner would want to take an intermediate-level course while someone with more experience should look into an advanced-level course. Either take an average of 2-3 years to complete. During your training, it’s common to spend time in a college for theory training and extra qualifications, such as maths and English.
A drawback of taking work experience or becoming self-taught is that you can expect little to no pay. This is because unless you can offer a high-quality service, people are unlikely to trust their vehicles with you. Apprenticeships let people know that you are learning the trade and have a professional helping you do so. Work experience or being self-taught doesn’t offer that security, meaning it may be harder to find work after.
Qualifications
In terms of qualifications mechanics have both the simplest and most complex requirements. The more complex the work you decide to take on, the more you will need to actually start it. Examples include:
- Heavy Vehicle Service and Maintenance Technician
- Certificate in Aircraft Maintenance
- Aeronautical Engineering and Maintenance
Keep in mind that these are some of the most complex examples. They enable work on heavy vehicles and aircraft, something much simpler like a Level 1 certificate in vehicle maintenance would work for cars.
Starting the business
When deciding to start a career as a self-employed mechanic, it’s important to choose the right type of business to start.
You could decide to start up a business as a sole trader, which would give you full control over your business and the finances involved. As a result, you are also directly responsible for all debts and should take care when handling the business’s finances.
On the other hand, you could start a limited company, which would split responsibilities between the owner and the shareholders. You pay yourself a salary and dividends meaning that the finances belong to the business, not you directly. As a result of this, debt isn’t the sole responsibility of the owner.