Halfords is aiming to recruit 1,000 technician roles over the next 12 months to boost its successful car servicing offer. Over-50s, women and disadvantaged young people are prioritised in this recruitment drive, as the UK’s tight labour market urges employers to consider new resources to fuel growth.

Chief executive Graham Stapleton said: “In such a volatile macroeconomic environment, our strategy of focusing on the kind of predictable and recurring revenue that comes from motoring services and needs-based products has never been more relevant.”