Driving Success: How Searle’s Auto Supports Tomorrow’s Technicians

As long as there are vehicles on the road, there will be a need for skilled technicians to service and perform maintenance on them. Searle’s Auto, located in Victoria, B.C., has been in business since 1979, providing automotive repair and maintenance services to the community. During that time,  they have trained several Automotive Service Technician (AST) apprentices to Red Seal certification and currently have three apprentices on staff.

Owner Chris Wylie is a champion of apprenticeship – it’s not only a benefit to his business, but also because it brings him personal fulfillment.. “It's great to see young people learn and be excited about learning. It's rewarding when they go through each level and they pass that exam.”

From a business perspective, hiring and training apprentices is a sustainable way to develop and build your workforce with an estimated ROI 35 to 43 cents for every dollar invested. Hiring apprentices and supporting them through their pathway is also a way to build their experience and learn your company’s systems and values. 

One of Searle’s next generation of technicians is Andrew Collis, a Level 1 AST. Andrew has always wanted to be a mechanic, even before he learned how to drive. A bit of it is from family influence: his dad and brother are both Red Seal mechanics, and many of his friends are also aspiring ASTs. Andrew pursued trades training in high school through the Youth Train in Trades and Youth Work in Trades programs (SkilledTradesBC Youth Programs) and is already enrolled for his Level 2 training. 

Andrew is excited to keep building his knowledge and skills. “I love learning about new cars and the new technology that is coming out. I'm really excited to see where the automotive trade goes.” He’s already observed his own growth and how rewarding it is to apply what he learns in a practical setting. Andrew believes in the value of hands-on training because the skills you gain are transferable, no matter what career path you choose, such as problem solving. 

Beyond gaining practical skills, apprentices also earn a paycheck during their workplace training, which accounts for 80 percent of apprenticeship training. Chris adds, “you go to work, you’re making money, you’re learning the trade. And at the end you can earn your Red Seal certification which opens more doors for you.” The Red Seal certification is also a nationally recognized credential that represents years of hard work and training – 6,360 hours and 28 weeks of schooling to be precise for Automotive Service Technician. 

The benefits of apprenticeship can be seen in the long and short term – an apprentice has gainful employment and a business has staff and the legacy to the wider community is long lasting. Apprentices will grow into skilled trades professionals that bring value to the business, are rooted in the community and continue to develop and pass valuable knowledge to the next generation of apprentices and tradespeople.