Workshop Manager

TipTopJob; Sittingbourne; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 58,000; Full time

Job summary

Countrystyle is seeking an experienced Workshop Manager to take ownership of the Ridham site workshop in Sittingbourne. You will lead from the front, ensuring every vehicle, plant item and piece of equipment is maintained to high safety and operational standards, while managing budget and driving a culture of continuous improvement.

The role blends hands-on technical work with day-to-day supervision of mechanics, fitters and apprentices, and requires strong knowledge of inspections, PEM, DVSA

Responsibilities

• Hands-On Technical Work: carry out routine inspections, servicing, maintenance and repairs to fleet vehicles, plant, machinery and site equipment and identify faults across hydraulic, mechanical and electrical systems.
• Workshop Leadership: lead, supervise and allocate daily tasks to mechanics, fitters, apprentices, and other workshop staff; provide hands-on guidance and conduct performance reviews.
• Fleet Compliance: ensure 100 Planned Event Maintenance (PEM) compliance and adherence to DVSA requirements, Operator Licence undertakings and manufacturer standards; oversee MOT preparation and first-time pass rates.
• Planning, Scheduling: coordinate servicing schedules and downtime to minimise disruption; monitor productivity, throughput and vehicle availability KPIs; escalate risks where needed.
• Record Keeping: maintain auditable records including inspection sheets, service records and defect reports; ensure documentation is up to date and compliant with standards.
• Financial & Compliance: own the workshop budget, control labour costs and parts usage; drive cost-saving opportunities without compromising quality; ensure health, safety and environmental compliance.
• Health & Safety: ensure all workshop operations comply with DVSA and company standards; maintain audit-ready conditions and readiness for DVSA inspections.

Job description

Job Title: Workshop Manager

Location: Ridham Dock Road, Sittingbourne, Kent, ME9 8SR (Ridham and Group Sites)

Salary: Competitive

Job Type: Permanent, Full time

Working Hours: Monday to Friday : 50 hours per week, flexibility required

About Us

Countrystyle is a member of the family:owned Heathcote Holdings Group of resource management companies and as a family run business our people and customers are at the heart of our growth and drive for passion for solution focused service.

About The Role

An experienced, hands:on Workshop Manager who takes personal ownership of the workshop as if it were their own, setting the standard, leading from the front, and ensuring every vehicle, plant item and piece of equipment is maintained to the highest levels of safety, compliance and operational readiness. The role combines direct mechanical, diagnostic and repair work with day:to:day oversight of all workshop operations at Ridham, driving a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and engineering excellence. The successful candidate will be equally comfortable under a vehicle as they are in a budget review or compliance audit.

Responsibilities

Hands:On Technical Work and Fault Diagnosis

• Carry out and oversee routine inspections, servicing, maintenance and repairs to fleet vehicles, plant, machinery and site equipment.
• Use diagnostic equipment and technical knowledge to identify faults across hydraulic, mechanical and electrical systems.
• Carry out welding, fabrication, machining and general repair work as required to support workshop and operational needs.
• Complete initial assessments of vehicles, plant and equipment to identify root causes of faults and recommend cost:effective remedies.

Workshop Leadership And People Management

• Take full ownership of the workshop : run it as if it were your own, holding yourself and your team to the highest standards.
• Lead, supervise and allocate daily tasks to mechanics, fitters, apprentices and other workshop staff.
• Provide hands:on guidance, support and mentoring to all workshop personnel.
• Conduct performance reviews, one:to:ones and development planning for direct reports.

Fleet Compliance And Regulatory Oversight

• Ensure 100 Planned Event Maintenance (PEM) compliance across all vehicles and equipment types.
• Ensure full adherence to DVSA requirements, Operator Licence undertakings, manufacturer standards and company policy.
• Oversee MOT preparation and presentation, targeting consistently high first:time pass rates.
• Monitor and drive defect management processes, prioritising safety:critical defects and eliminating backlog growth.
• Conduct regular compliance audits; maintain audit:ready standards at all times and prepare the business for DVSA audits.

Planning, Scheduling And Operational Performance

• Plan and coordinate servicing schedules, inspections, breakdown repairs and urgent maintenance to minimise downtime.
• Monitor workshop productivity, throughput and vehicle availability KPIs.
• Escalate Vehicle Off Road (VOR) risks promptly and manage resolution.
• Monitor repeat defects and drive root cause analysis and corrective action.

Record Keeping And Documentation

• Maintain accurate, auditable records including inspection sheets, job cards, service records, defect reports and completed works.
• Ensure all documentation is kept up to date, signed off within required timescales and compliant with DVSA and company standards.

Financial And Commercial Management

• Own and manage the workshop budget : treat expenditure with the same care as your own money.
• Control labour costs, overtime, agency spend and external repair expenditure.
• Monitor parts usage, stock levels and procurement.
• Identify and deliver cost:saving opportunities without compromising compliance or quality.

Health, Safety And Environmental Compliance

• Ensure all workshop operations comply fully w