Garage manager
Service centre manager, vehicle workshop manager, workshop controller
Garage managers are responsible for the day-to-day running of a garage workshop.
Salary range: £22,000 to £35,000
How to become a garage manager
You can get into this job through:
- a college course
- working towards this role
College
You could work towards this role by doing a relevant college course like:
- Level 3 Diploma in Light Vehicle Maintenance & Repair
- Level 4 Diploma in Automotive Engineering
Entry requirements
You’ll usually need:
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, for a level 3 course
- 1 or 2 A levels, a level 3 diploma or relevant experience for a level 4 or level 5 course
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Work
You could start as a motor mechanic or service technician and work your way up through training and promotion.
You’ll need a vehicle technician qualification and several years’ experience in the motor trade.
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Further information
You can find out more about working in the motor industry from Autocity.
What it takes
Skills and knowledge
You’ll need:
- knowledge of engineering science and technology
- business management skills
- the ability to motivate and manage staff
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- customer service skills
- the ability to work well with others
- patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
- the ability to organise your time and workload
- to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
Restrictions and requirements
You’ll need to:
- have a full driving licence
What you’ll do
Day-to-day tasks
Your day-to-day duties may include:
- supervising a team of mechanics
- dealing with customers
- organising bookings and assigning work to staff
- ordering parts
- checking the quality of work
- controlling a budget
- recruiting staff
- managing fleet accounts for commercial clients
Working environment
You could work in an office, at a garage or in a workshop.
Your working environment may be noisy and dirty.
You may need to wear safety clothing and use safety equipment.
Career path and progression
You could become a fleet maintenance, service centre, or general business manager with a manufacturer’s dealership.
You might also become a technical manager, specialising in a particular area like heavy commercial vehicles or motor sport.
You may find professional training like the IMI Accreditation for Management could help your career prospects.