At a Glance
- Tasks: Assess vehicle damage and provide repair estimates in a fast-paced body shop environment.
- Company: Join a rapidly growing company recognised as one of the UK's top 100 private firms.
- Benefits: Enjoy 33 days holiday, performance bonuses, health plans, and free breakfasts.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by delivering high-quality repairs and outstanding customer service.
- Qualifications: Must be an ATA VDA Vehicle Damage Assessor with relevant estimating experience.
- Other info: Be part of a supportive team that values communication and personal growth.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
We’re looking for a Vehicle Damage Assessor to join the friendly, fast‑paced team at our state‑of‑the‑art AAR Mildenhall body shop. Help deliver outstanding service and high‑quality repairs for our customers. In return you’ll receive competitive pay, bonus opportunities for progression and great benefits.
Role overview
As a qualified ATA VDA Vehicle Damage Assessor you will assist the Bodyshop Manager to oversee all aspects of the Bodyshop ensuring customer service level agreements (SLAs) and site key performance indicators (KPIs) are met while maximising profitability. Provide estimates for the cost of repair for damaged vehicles.
Benefits
- 33 days holiday (including bank holidays)
- Annual and monthly performance bonus
- Health Shield cash health plan for all
- Annual pay review
- Enhanced Maternity / Paternity / shared parental / adoption pay
- Life assurance: three times basic salary
- Free breakfast cereals and milk daily
- Free fruit every Monday
- Free breakfasts sent to site every Wednesday
Key Responsibilities
- Assist with planning resource and equipment levels around budgets and financial plans.
- Establish and maintain control of consistent workflow within the Bodyshop through effective capacity planning.
- Adhere to operational workshop loading system in line with company policy / procedures ensuring all targets and deadlines are met or addressed.
- Manage daily production co-ordination.
- Regularly and consistently review site KPI performance to identify areas of potential shortfall against plan delivery of average repair cost target CSI targets and customer service scores.
- Manage customer complaints from initial contact through to conclusion. To carry out any root cause analysis on each complaint identifying and implementing any actions required.
- Promote good communication throughout all areas of responsibility develop and foster a pro‑active attitude through regular open and honest communication that supports the achievement of Company objectives.
- Carry out a visual inspection to identify any accidental damage caused to avoid uninsured loss damage costs.
- Estimate by considering the most economical repair method.
- Maintain awareness of incoming vehicles and flag any issues.
- Awareness and compliance of Health & Safety requirements.
- Ability to create an estimate both manually and via company systems.
- Verbal explanation of the repair procedure and process to the workshop and customers and variable levels of understanding.
- Ability to value a vehicle at a market value in order to determine the repairable economics of a damaged vehicle.
- Ensure all chargeable materials are recorded on job cards for invoicing purposes.
- Review all open job cards (daily) and report any ongoing and recurrent work in progress problems.
- Assist in the correct evaluation and justification of bodywork warranty claims and provide comprehensive explanations thereof.
- Estimate repairs required together with the time to be allowed materials and parts required for repairs and explain work required to customers and to insurance and other assessors in an efficient pleasant courteous and professional manner.
- Make efficient use of all modern estimating methods and work in line with approved times set by Thatcham and / or other authorised repair times.
- Bring to customers attention any problems faults and other issues that might impact on the performance and safety of their vehicles.
Skills & Experience
- ATA VDA Vehicle Damage Assessor.
- Relevant experience as an estimator.
- Ability to qualify and quantify repairs required.
- Ability to negotiate effectively with third parties.
- Audatex Trained.
- Escribe trained and Adherence.
- Ability to discuss and negotiate agreeable solutions to customer problems.
- Ability to maintain personal technical knowledge and skills including SMART repairs.
What you can expect from us
At Activate Group looking after team members is a major priority and we’ll make sure you have all the support you need to succeed. From little perks like free fruit breakfast cereals to impressive rewards for our employee of the month we’ll go out of our way to show how much we appreciate the effort you put in.
A bit about us
Named by the Sunday Times as one of the UK’s 100 fastest-growing private companies we employ more than 900 team members nationwide. We work with some of the UK’s largest fleets and insurance companies supporting drivers that have been involved in a road accident at our contact centres in Halifax and Peterborough. We look after every step of the repair process repairing vehicles at our own Activate Accident Repair body shops and through a UK-wide network of independent repair partners.
Key Skills
- Intelligence
- Information Technology
- Sales
- Accounts
- Auto Parts
- Data Analysis
Employment Type: Full-Time
Experience: years
Vacancy: 1
Vehicle Damage Assessor in England employer: Activate Group Limited
Contact Detail:
Activate Group Limited Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Vehicle Damage Assessor in England
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect with potential employers on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and practising common questions. Show them you’re not just another candidate; you’re genuinely interested in their mission and values.
✨Tip Number 3
Follow up after your interview! A quick thank-you email can set you apart from the competition and show your enthusiasm for the role. It’s a small gesture that can make a big difference.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! We love seeing applications directly from candidates who are excited about joining our team. Plus, it shows you’re proactive and keen to be part of our journey.
We think you need these skills to ace Vehicle Damage Assessor in England
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Vehicle Damage Assessor role. Highlight your relevant experience, especially your ATA VDA qualifications and any estimating skills. We want to see how you can bring value to our team!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about the role and how your skills align with our values. We love seeing enthusiasm and a good fit for our friendly team.
Showcase Your Skills: In your application, don’t forget to mention your experience with Audatex and Escribe. We’re looking for someone who can hit the ground running, so let us know how you’ve used these tools in your previous roles.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us quickly and efficiently. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our awesome team at Activate Accident Repair!
How to prepare for a job interview at Activate Group Limited
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of vehicle damage assessment and repair processes. Familiarise yourself with the latest estimating methods and tools like Audatex and Escribe, as well as the standards set by Thatcham. This will show that you're not just qualified but also passionate about staying current in the field.
✨Showcase Your Communication Skills
As a Vehicle Damage Assessor, you'll need to explain complex repair procedures to customers and colleagues. Practice articulating your thoughts clearly and confidently. Think about how you can convey technical information in a way that's easy for everyone to understand, which is key to managing customer expectations.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that ask how you'd handle specific situations, like customer complaints or workflow issues. Prepare examples from your past experience where you've successfully navigated similar challenges. This will demonstrate your problem-solving skills and ability to maintain high service levels under pressure.
✨Align with Company Values
Familiarise yourself with the company's values, such as teamwork and accountability. During the interview, weave these values into your responses to show that you’re a good cultural fit. For instance, share examples of how you've worked collaboratively in previous roles to achieve common goals.