A mechanic who was laid off during the oil downturn is now spending his time “blinging” up cars in Aberdeen.
Morgan Prosser was paid off in June after four years working for the company where he oversaw seven workshops covering mechanics, painting and fabrication.
After receiving a settlement, Mr Prosser decided to leave the industry and go back to his trade with his own business.
He now runs a garage, MAP Autoshop in Dyce.
Aside from carrying out normal work such as mechanical repairs and MoTs, Mr Prosser has been specialising with a metallic flake paint for vehicle owners who want their car redecorated.
The service is thought to be unique to north-east Scotland.
Mr Prosser admits it was a difficult period when he lost his job in the downturn, but feels he has “done well” in what he has achieved since.
He said: “What happened was a lot to do with the downturn. I had a deputy manager below me and I was more expensive than him.
“It’s quite brutal with oil companies when they want to lay off people.
“I was at the company for over four years and they were very good to me. When the downturn happened the workshops were hit with a lot of redundancies.
“I did get another offer of employment from someone I know at another oil company but I decided to go back to my trade and set up business
myself on my settlement. It’s really early days with a new business. There’s a big risk with it always but I have a lot of companies looking for work, predominantly in the transport sector, like HGV lorries and that.
“There’s been quiet times and there’s been busy times but it’s worked out better than what I thought.”
The 42-year-old, who is originally from Stonehaven, creates his unique metallic flake paint with a special mixer.
So far he’s had a range of vehicles coming in for a metallic paint job, ranging from a campervan to a BMW.
He even had a woman customer who wanted a kitchen appliance sprayed.
Mr Prosser said: “I had someone coming in wanting me to paint a kitchen aid. It’s like an aid for baking things. She couldn’t find the colour to match their kitchen which has a bit of black and gold in it.
“She wanted the machine to have this golden look.”
Despite it being “early days” he is happy with how far he has come since losing his job last year.
“There’s still a lot of room for improvement but I don’t miss the oil yet.
“When I think back from last year to now I think I have done well in what I have achieved so far.
“It can be stressful at times but in general I am happy. There’s times when I could be busier but I don’t think anyone takes off in the first year, it takes time.
“I’m glad that I have gone back to my trade and what I was originally doing.”
Recommended for you
