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What's a reasonable level for the different roles? Found a few old threads about it but they're quoting £8/hr when that's now well below minimum wage. I'm looking for new work and a few bike shops are advertising, I've worked in bike shops before so know the pitfalls of fixing BSO's etc, but what is a going rate for trainee mechanic through to workshop manager? Still around or just above minimum wage and does having Cytech qualifications make a difference?
No experience of this myself but I saw an advert for an experienced bike mechanic wanted about 6 months ago and they were offering £22kpa.
I’d imagine an apprentice would be on minimum wage whatever that is currently set at these days. Unless you’re under 18 I think, when they can pay you less than minimum / there’s a different minimum.
Edit - this link has the full detail. It’s more complicated than I thought with national minimum / living wages and apprentice rates
https://www.gov.uk/national-minimum-wage-rates
Around minimum wage from what I understand, unless there's been a drastic change recently.
I was getting £10/hr doing part-time work. Anything over minimum wage is a bonus
I was on rock bottom minimum wage when I first came to Sheffield. I can't remember what the exact hourly rate was at the time but my payslip used to show just under £1000 every month.
And for that I was working early or late shifts and giving up my weekends. I'm not a trainee either. I can do pretty much anything with a bike and would always take on the dirtiest most rotten jobs that no one else wanted. It's thoroughly disheartening to work so hard and be so skint. The only bonus you can look forward to is the occasional packet of biscuits.
I did have some great workmates and we had a good laugh but that doesn't make living in a tiny bedsit any more tolerable.
The second I found a job with a higher wage I was out of there like a shot. I'm not earning mega money now (and never will) but it's Monday to Friday and I don't have to deal with the public. It's bliss in comparison.
Also my current bosses are actually qualified to do their jobs and make sensible decisions. They didn't just come from the owners ball sack to lurk around like creeps and turn the place into the cycling equivalent of Poundstretcher.
i got 17.5k for 6 days a week, doing mechanics, sales, looking after the social media, outside events etc, same wage when i started to 4 years later when i left, great fun but not sustainable even getting parts at trade!
Around minimum wage from what I understand, unless there’s been a drastic change recently.
That's what I thought it might be. Might send off a few email enquiries to the shops advertising just in case though. Mad to think I'm earning a better hourly wage driving a supermarket delivery van that requires no real skill (satnav to each address, scanner that tells you which box goes to which customer etc) against knowing how to build, repair and modify a vehicle that can potentially kill someone if done wrong.
It's just a bicycle though isn't it? A kids toy. Anyone can fix a bike.
Out of interest, what does a supermarket delivery driver get? I used to work in a bike shop when I left school - thought it would be my dream job. Stuck it out for 2 days. Worked for idiots, dealt with idiots.
Anyone can fix a bike
And I'm led to believe you can also apply those skills to fixing naval helicopters and destroyers.
Currently on £9.60/hr which moves up to £10.20 after 26 weeks in the job. Sounds good but they will only offer a maximum of a 30hr/week contract with no guarantee of overtime. They're also employing lots of other drivers on sup-20hr contracts so if any overtime is available they snap it up first. Everyone also fights for day shifts as opposed to evening as there's more likelihood of getting a full 7.5hrs out of it, evenings are quieter and shorter so you could have to work 6 days to get 30hrs in! It's busy now but there's no guarantee it will stay that way. Trying to find work with guaranteed hours that will cover my living costs so the current work isn't really sustainable for me.
beej
And I’m led to believe you can also apply those skills to fixing naval helicopters and destroyers.
Is that the one where the chap appears to be removing a quick release with a spanner?
Is that the one where the chap appears to be removing a quick release with a spanner?
And has the cranks at 90 degrees...
Love how the biscuits are a treat!
Ginger Snaps if you're offering.
Josh Lewis did once drop a bag full of cans in when we had some obscure little bits to get his new Santa Cruz running. That was very much appreciated.
Poor generally.
ACT current job listings can give you an idea
Maybe with the boom in cycling people will be willing to pay a little more for a service, people generally expect to pay a fair bit to tradesmen/car mechanics so why not the same to bike mechanics.
You could argue the job isn't that difficult but I would argue the same for a lot of DIY and car servicing.
Maybe with the boom in cycling people will be willing to pay a little more for a service, people generally expect to pay a fair bit to tradesmen/car mechanics so why not the same to bike mechanics.
😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂
Shop guys, out of interest, what is your shop's charge out labour rate?
I wonder if the retail shop is subsidising the workshop or vice versa
bigyan - great link. Looks like it would be a real struggle to get over the £20k mark, so no real room for improvement. £18k start isn't unreasonable but if you can't get much higher than that there's not really any incentive to put any extra effort in. Will have a think about it over the morning I think.
Stick with the delivery's until you find something more suitable or maybe offer repairs as a sideline.
Owners think you do it for love not money! And trade prices are nothing special... I often still bought online from the German places when I worked in a shop
And I’m led to believe you can also apply those skills to fixing naval helicopters and destroyers.
Took my Type 23 Frigate into Halfords last week as it was pulling to the left a bit.
The bloke behind the desk just looked at me as if I was mental.
Is that the one where the chap appears to be removing a quick release with a spanner?
And has the cranks at 90 degrees…
Just freeze-framed the advert - brilliant 🙂
Rule Britannia !