Body Shop Manager
Preston
Bodyshop Manager – Preston
About The Vella Group
The Vella Group is one of the UK’s leading accident repair specialists, with over 30 years’ experience supporting drivers and insurer partners. Operating across a growing network of modern bodyshops, The Vella Group is committed to technical excellence, outstanding customer service, and continuous investment in people, equipment, and innovation.
As we continue to expand, we are looking for talented leaders who share our passion for high standards, operational efficiency, and delivering exceptional repair quality.
Role Overview
We are seeking a Bodyshop Manager to lead our Preston site. In this role, you will be responsible for all operational and technical activities, overseeing support staff and technicians, managing workflow, ensuring compliance, and maintaining excellent relationships with customers, suppliers, and Work Providers.
You will drive productivity, lead daily production meetings, and ensure the highest standards are achieved across the site, from estimate to vehicle return.
Key Responsibilities
Operational & Production Leadership
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Manage all repair, estimating, and production processes, ensuring efficiency, accuracy, and adherence to repair methodologies.
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Oversee daily workflow, producing schedules and leading production meetings to review performance and plan upcoming work.
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Achieve consistent labour utilisation, ensuring technicians’ skills are fully deployed and productivity targets are met.
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Identify production constraints and escalate to the Operations Manager when needed.
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Support all site departments to maintain smooth and collaborative operations.
Customer Experience & Work Provider Management
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Act as senior point of contact for customer complaints, resolving issues professionally and maintaining high satisfaction.
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Build and maintain strong relationships with Work Providers, understanding contracts and negotiating effectively.
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Keep customers informed throughout the repair journey, communicating updates, changes, and expectations clearly.
Estimating, Administration & Compliance
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Ensure supplementary estimates are produced and submitted promptly with supporting images in line with contractual agreements.
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Maintain accurate notes and updates in internal management systems to track claim progression.
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Monitor workloads to meet internal and contractual SLA requirements.
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Ensure full compliance with BSI 10125, HSE, COSHH, EPA regulations, and internal audit requirements.
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Conduct final QC checks to maintain repair quality.
People Leadership
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Lead, motivate, and support all onsite staff, fostering a high-performance culture.
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Oversee on-the-job training for new and existing team members.
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Conduct regular performance reviews and develop staff with clear expectations and growth plans.
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Promote a team culture centred on quality, safety, and accountability.
Quality, Safety & Site Standards
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Stay up-to-date with repair methods, technology, and manufacturer guidelines.
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Maintain housekeeping standards and ensure equipment is properly maintained.
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Drive continuous improvements in processes, efficiency, and overall site performance.
Additional Expectations
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Flexibility to undertake additional duties as required, including support at other sites.
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Attend training courses to stay current with industry standards and company policies.
