How do I check how a garage trains and keeps its apprentice technicians?
Ask who trains each apprentice, how their progress is recorded, and what happened to past apprentices. Then talk to the apprentices and the mentors if the seller permits. A garage that trains well and keeps people has a supply of skilled technicians. One that keeps losing them is paying for training that goes elsewhere.
Start with the structure. Does each apprentice have a named mentor, a plan for what they will learn, and time set aside to learn it? Ask how work is assigned and how skills are signed off. Look for written records of progress. A shop that trains by chance usually has uneven results.
Then look at retention. Of the apprentices the garage has taken on, how many stayed after finishing, and where did the rest go? Ask why. Pay, schedule, a hard mentor and better offers nearby are all common answers. Ask whether the garage helps with school time, tools or exam fees, and what happens to that support if the owner changes.
Finally, think about the handover. Apprentices may worry about new ownership, and mentors are the people they follow. Find out which senior technicians matter most to the pipeline and whether they plan to stay. Your lawyer can review any training or tool-loan agreements, and your accountant can review wage and training costs. After closing, a visible plan for apprentices helps keep the team together. Ask the owner what the shop would do differently if it could train again, which often reveals what has not worked in the past.
Key takeaways
- Ask who mentors each apprentice and how their progress is recorded.
- Look at how many past apprentices stayed, and why others left.
- Identify the mentors the pipeline depends on and whether they plan to stay.
Related reading
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Sources
This answer is checked against primary sources. Links were last confirmed on the dates shown.
- 01Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentHow to conduct due diligence when buying a business
- 02Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentHow to reduce employee turnover
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