To survive in the motor vehicle repair business it is now neccessary to be a master engineer, an electronics expert a colour technician, a metallurgist, a plastics technician as well as an accomplished business manager.

The days of running a backyard operation where you just carried out panel-beating and spray-painting are just a distant memory.

The investment required in equipment, skilled tradesmen and materials mean that smaller operators are simply going to disappear from the trade.