Bodyshop Controller in Gateshead

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced Bodyshop Controller to join the UK’s leading Accident and Collision Repair specialist in our increasingly busy site in Newcastle.

The Role

As Bodyshop Controller, you will be responsible for the day-to-day operation of the workshop, ensuring productivity, quality and customer service targets are achieved while maintaining a safe and positive working environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, motivate, and develop a team of technicians, painters, MET technicians and support staff
• Drive workshop productivity and efficiency to maximise performance
• Monitor and manage repair quality, ensuring manufacturer and company standards are met
• Oversee work allocation and workflow management to minimise vehicle repair times
• Ensure KPI, financial and operational targets are achieved
• Manage customer expectations and support the resolution of escalated issues
• Promote a culture of accountability, teamwork and continuous improvement
• Ensure compliance with health and safety regulations and company procedures
• Control workshop costs, labour performance and resource planning
• Work closely with the leadership team to identify opportunities for growth and improvement

Another very important aspect of the job is teamwork. Key to your success is your ability to produce work that complies with the highest technical and quality standards and, above all, helps us deliver on our service commitment to customers.

About you

Ideally you are qualified to NVQ level 3/City & Guilds or ATA qualified with a solid Bodyshop background – as a Bodyshop Controller, Workshop Manager or Quality Controller within a Car Dealership, Body Repairer or Crash Repair Centre. You come from a fast‑paced background and know how to work in a standard job time structure with a focus on producing compliant, high‑quality work. You can do more than one thing at once and being able to prioritise and plan your work is key. You will have a full UK/EU Driving Licence.

You take pride in providing a great customer experience each day and understand what is important to your customers and suppliers.

Why choose FMG RS?

Of course, we offer a fantastic basic salary, but there’s much more to being a Bodyshop Controller and Assistant Manager at FMGRS than just that. Some of our most popular benefits include:

• Fantastic monthly bonus schemes
• 23 days annual leave, plus an extra day off to celebrate your birthday
• Free life assurance (x2 your basic salary)
• Exclusive colleague‑only vehicle‑leasing schemes
• Pension & save‑as‑you‑earn share scheme
• A Benefits App giving a huge range of retailer discounts and cashback deals
• Well-being services (incl. 24/7 GP service, mental health support and physiotherapy + Health Cash Plan, Dental Plan & Travel Insurance)
• Stream App for all our colleagues – a Financial Wellbeing app that gives you more control over your pay
• You’re rewarded for your part in our success through our fantastic bonus schemes
• We invest in you – We believe everyone should have the opportunity to better themselves and look to progress
• We’re growing – it’s an exciting time for the industry and we’re committed to being at cutting edge

Join the FMG RS family with the best people in the industry within our Group. We’re also part of something bigger – ZIGUP, a leading provider of integrated mobility solutions, supporting customers across the UK, Ireland, and Spain. We are proud to have been awarded a King’s Award for Enterprise in 2025, recognised for our commitment to promoting opportunity and supporting social mobility.

We’re committed to building a diverse, inclusive, and respectful workplace where everyone can thrive. We actively welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, experiences, identities, and abilities. If you need adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process, just let us know. We’re here to support you.

We are agile. We are experts. We are imaginative. We are reliable.