Toronto, Ontario — The work of the Canadian Collision Industry Forum’s work never ceases—but, outside of its three large annual events, much of the action occurs behind closed doors.
In the run-up to this year’s CCIF Toronto—which runs from Jan. 30 to Jan. 31—Collision Repair highlights the two most significant initiatives the group supports.
Collision Industry-Education Connection Program
The Collision Industry Education Connection program has one goal: to promote post-secondary auto body college programs by supporting students, courses and curriculum developers. The committee also manages donations, which are spent on providing equipment and materials to college programs.
The Canadian auto repair workforce has been ageing in recent decades. This is a sign that new people aren’t replacing older ones in an effective manner.
The CCIF has played a leading role in highlighting this crisis and pushing for the industry’s involvement in advocating for young people to engage with the industry.
The CI-EC has been the tip of the spear in this fight. It has identified key problems facing students considering entering autobody programs—specifically, the high cost-of-entry, and relatively low rates of initial payment.
It is one of several groups that have shined a light on challenges faced by Canada’s auto repair educators. In some areas of the country, college-level teachers must contend with limited access to consumables for their classes, and teach from curriculums that are not always reflective the changing needs of the industry.
Unlike many well-intended groups, the CI-EC appears to be making an actual, quantifiable difference. In 2018, enrollment rates began to rise—a trend believed to have continued into 2019.
While the inflow of new labour is improving, a labour shortage does exist—making the CI-EC’s work all the more valuable.
CCIF Business Conditions Survey
The CCIF has recognized a serious problem facing the collision industry in Canada. There is a lack of reliable information about shop performance.
By their nature, most Canadian collision sector surveys—unless conducted in a scientific way—struggle to receive responses that represent the scope of the industry in Canada.
This is a matter of reach.
At Collision Repair, for example, our surveys are filled out by readers.
Compared to the average repairer, our readers tend to work at a larger, more profitable business and are more likely to accept new approaches that require major investments. They are also far more likely to hold OEM certifications and have formal partnership agreements with multiple auto insurers. The answers they provide our magazine are reflective of this.
The answers they provide are generally reflective of their position in the industry.
This lack of balance could be seen in any group surveying their members and seeking to come to conclusions about the industry as-a-whole—be they banners or associations.
The Business Conditions Survey is approaching information gathering in a far more scientific way. The project itself is being run by the DesRosiers Automotive Consultants.
It represents the largest scientific data-gathering effort in the collision industry. So far, it has gathered sales information from close to 1,000 collision industry shops, tracking data on sales on a regional and quarterly basis.
Now open to all industry stakeholders, you can sign up to participate in the project here. In return, contributors will receive the Business Conditions Survey Report, for both their own region and the national report.
