Despite today’s ending of the car scrappage scheme, the improvement in recruitment that it triggered looks set to continue, according to a specialist motor trade industry recruiter.

Derek Webb, director of Nicholas Recruitment, told Recruiter: “The car scrappage scheme has given the retail sector [of the motor industry] time to sort itself out, and it will continue to do well. I believe that the retail side will carry on recruiting.”

Under the £400m scheme, which began last May, the government contributed half of the £2,000 incentive that customers received on a new car if they scrapped a model that was at least 10 years old.

Webb says there is strong demand for vehicle technicians and body repair staff. “It is difficult to get good quality car sales staff.” Companies such as Kwik Fit and the AA are continuing to recruit.

In comparison, Webb says that conditions for recruiters in the vehicle finance sector of the motor trade are continuing to deteriorate, with finance companies making redundancies.