Workshop Manager - Plant and Light Vehicles

About the Role

ANT Recruitment is supporting an established UK transport and engineering business in finding a hands-on Workshop Manager. You will lead a mixed plant and light-vehicle workshop while remaining actively involved in diagnosis, servicing, and repairs.

This is a working manager position, with substantial time on the tools alongside daily supervision, coaching, and quality control. The workshop covers vans, pickups, and mixed plant equipment (forklifts, hydraulic jacks, generators).

Key Responsibilities

• Plan and allocate daily maintenance work, balancing routine servicing, repairs, and equipment availability.

• Stay visible on the workshop floor and provide hands-on technical support rather than managing entirely from an office.

• Monitor work in progress, inspect completed work, and follow up on defects, incomplete tasks, and recurring faults.

• Coach technicians and support apprentices within their competence and supervision needs.

• Develop clear working routines, job records, housekeeping, and communication between the workshop and fleet management.

• Help establish suitable workshop equipment, resources, and maintenance processes.

• Prioritise safe, legal, and compliant maintenance, escalating issues that need specialist advice.

Skills and Experience Required:

• A strong practical maintenance background with credible workshop supervisory or management experience.

• Ability to lead technicians while contributing to fault-finding and repairs.

• Confidence coordinating a mixed vehicle/plant workload and recognising the limits of personal competence.

• Experience checking work quality, supporting colleagues, and maintaining clear maintenance records.

Desirable Experience:

• Relevant technical or workshop-management qualifications.

• Experience with vans, pickups, forklifts, hydraulic equipment, or generators.

• Transferable HGV or PSV workshop leadership experience, supported by a clear plan for learning unfamiliar plant equipment.

Package and Working Arrangements:

• GBP 40,000 to GBP 48,000 per annum

• Management package includes Bupa

• 25 days of annual leave plus 8 bank holidays

• Pension plan available

• Currently Monday to Friday (no weekends at the time of briefing)