Motor Vehicle Technician

Wigan & Leigh College and University Centre; Greater Manchester; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Enhanced DBS check

Comprehensive wellbeing programme

Generous annual leave

Healthcare plan

Employee assistance programme

Job summary

Wigan & Leigh College and University Centre is seeking a hands-on Workshop Assistant to support automotive practical learning. You will prepare tools, vehicles and spaces for sessions, assist lecturers, and maintain a safe, well-organised workshop environment to help students build confidence and skills.

You will supervise learners in workshops, monitor stock and equipment, and contribute to safety checks and risk assessments.

Qualifications

• Experience in motor vehicle engineering or related automotive environment.
• Ability to prepare and maintain workshop spaces and equipment.
• Knowledge of health and safety in an automotive workshop.

Responsibilities

• Prepare tools, equipment, vehicles and workshop spaces for practical sessions.
• Support lecturers before, during and after practical delivery.
• Help maintain safe, clean and organised workshop environments.
• Demonstrate safe use of tools and equipment.
• Supervise and support learners in workshops and surrounding areas.
• Monitor tools, equipment, materials and stock levels.
• Carry out routine workshop checks and support risk assessments.
• Report faults or safety concerns promptly.
• Promote safe working habits and professional standards.
• Support Open Evenings and other events.

Skills

Practical hands-on work

Workshop safety

Organisation

Student support

Attention to detail

Team collaboration

Education

Level 3 Motor Vehicle qualification

Tools

Workshop tools

Job description

37 Hours per Week, Permanent

Keep the workshops ready. Support practical learning. Help students build automotive skills with confidence. Good practical learning starts with a workshop that is safe, organised and ready.

Application Deadline

9 October 2026

Department

Automobile Engineering

Location

Wigan & Leigh College

Compensation

£26,070 - £29,876 / year

What you’ll do

• Prepare tools, equipment, vehicles and workshop spaces for practical sessions.
• Support Motor Vehicle lecturers before, during and after practical delivery.
• Help maintain safe, clean and organised workshop environments.
• Demonstrate safe use of tools, equipment and workshop processes where appropriate.
• Supervise and support learners in workshops and surrounding areas.
• Monitor tools, equipment, materials and stock levels.
• Carry out routine workshop checks and support risk‑assessment activity.
• Report faults, missing equipment or safety concerns promptly.
• Promote safe working habits and professional standards.
• Support Open Evenings, taster sessions and other Motor Vehicle events where required.

What you’ll bring

• A relevant qualification in Motor Vehicle Engineering, Automotive Maintenance and Repair or a related area, ideally at Level 3.
• Industry experience in motor vehicle engineering, maintenance, repair, diagnostics or a related automotive environment.
• Confidence using and maintaining workshop tools, equipment and resources.
• Good knowledge of health and safety in an automotive workshop setting.
• Strong organisation and the ability to manage tools, vehicles, equipment and workshop spaces.
• A supportive approach with students and colleagues.
• Knowledge of City & Guilds Motor Vehicle programmes would be helpful.
• Experience supporting learners, apprentices or less‑experienced colleagues would be an advantage.

What you’re like

• Practical. You enjoy hands‑on work and know how to prepare a workshop properly.
• Safety‑focused. You take safe working seriously and set a good example.
• Organised. You keep tools, vehicles, equipment and spaces under control.
• Supportive. You help students build confidence and develop good habits.
• Reliable. Lecturers and learners can trust you to follow things through.
• Observant. You spot issues before they become bigger problems.
• Professional. You understand the standards expected in automotive and workshop settings.
• Team‑minded. You work well with colleagues to keep learning running smoothly.

Essentials

• You’ll need an enhanced DBS check. If you get the job, we’ll do this for you.
• You’re committed to safeguarding and inclusion.
• You have vocationally relevant qualifications in Motor Vehicle or a related automotive discipline, ideally to Level 3.
• You can work across college sites and workshop areas where required.
• You’re flexible and happy to support college activity when needed.
• You’re willing to complete health and safety, first‑aid or other role‑related training.

Why work for us

Motor Vehicle students learn by doing.

They need practical spaces where they can practise, make mistakes, improve and build the habits expected in the automotive industry. That only works when the workshop is safe, organised and ready.

At Wigan & Leigh College, you’ll play a key part in that.

You’ll support lecturers, prepare equipment and help students use tools, vehicles and workshop resources safely. You’ll see the difference your work makes when a learner gains confidence, completes a practical task properly or starts to understand the standards expected in industry.

You’ll be part of a department that values practical skill, safe working and strong support for learners. This is a role where your automotive experience helps create the conditions for students to succeed.

Great people. Change lives.

Time to recharge

• Generous annual leave entitlement, including bank holidays, depending on your role
• Family‑friendly leave policies

Wellbeing as well as work

• 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme
• Medicash healthcare plan
• Occupational health support
• Confidential counselling
• Specsavers eye test vouchers
• A culture where people look out for each other

Financial peace of mind

• Local Government Pension Scheme
• Salary sacrifice schemes, including Cycle to Work and buy tech
• Railcard and Tusker Green Car Scheme
• Local and national discount schemes

Clear progression routes

• Ongoing professional and technical development
• Opportunities to build experience across automotive workshops and technical support
• Opportunities to step up, specialise or move across college teams
• Support to develop your skills and confide

This role involves working with children in a regulated activity (which means any activity with close or unsupervised contact with children on a frequent or intensive basis). This covers things like teaching, training, supervising and advising children. It's a criminal offence to apply for this post if you’re barred from engaging in regulated activity with children.

Before you apply, please read our policies on child protection policy and employing people with criminal convictions. You'll find both on our website.

We can interview and appoint before the closing date if we receive suitable applications.

If you’re offered the role, we’ll need to do some checks before you start, including verifying any qualifications, a DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) and a medical questionnaire. We use Protocol National Ltd & E‑Safeguarding Ltd, so they may contact you.