Depot Foreman

Reporting into the Operations Manager and working alongside the Plant Manager, Service Manager, Depot Engineers and Service/Field Service Engineers, our Depot Foreman are responsible for effectively controlling all Depot staff and operations. The post holder will ensure product availability, quality, compliance, productivity, workload allocation and cost-controls, alongside the day-to-day management of the Depot Team. Through the effective management of the service centre you must ensure repairs and technical enquiries are dealt within a timely manner and to a satisfactory conclusion, ensuring the work area is maintained to a high standard and complies with all health and safety standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Customer Care/Service
  • Ensure excellent customer service is delivered to help increase revenue, reduce queries, and improve customer satisfaction.
  • Ensure optimum service levels are achieved and maintained by accurate picking and returning of equipment and fast responses to breakdowns/incidents.
  • Management of Quality Standards to help reduce site incidents/breakdowns.
• Profitability
  • To manage and report on pricing and costs within the depot with a view to optimising revenue and profitability.
  • Contribute to the strategic business plan development.
  • Advise the hire desk of any damage costs to ensure revenue and profitability is optimised.
• Employee Management
  • Identify and recruit employees with the right potential following the company’s laid-down recruitment procedure and Core Values to help decrease employee turnover.
  • Performance and Development reviews carried out on a regular basis using the company’s performance and development process.
  • Set objectives and review along with absence levels and grievances.
  • To ensure individuals are trained and developed effectively to be able to carry out their roles by following the training programme that should be put in place at the start of their employment.
  • To effectively line manage the Depot Team, including managing holiday, absence, and other elements of the employee life cycle with the support from the HR Team.
  • Be responsible for ensuring your direct reports are performing effectively within their role.
  • Identify and support with any development needs for your direct reports and support them when needed.
• Equipment Maintenance/Asset Management
  • Manage plant and tools by ensuring that daily checks are completed for all forklift vehicles, maintain the small tools register, ensure all PAT testing is current and in date, all lifting equipment and ancillaries comply with statutory regulations and ensuring all service records are in date.
  • Always maintain an awareness of cost control by managing agency and overtime spending and repair costs.
  • Maintain cost control over stock and assets within the depot by completing all forms accurately and send to the relevant departments in a timely manner.
  • Ensure depot is always secure by keeping all security systems maintained and in effect.
  • Report any break-ins or damage to the perimeter and ensure all depot key holders are on the register that is maintained.
  • To manage the effective repair, service and technical calibration of all equipment to ensure repair time is kept to a minimum.
  • Ensure all vehicle pre-booked maintenance/garage appointments are attended i.e. PMI’s/MOT’s/Repairs.
  • Quantify and correctly identify the movement of stock, effectively manage fleeted and bar codes stock as well as stock counts correctly carried out every 6 months.
• Administration
  • Ensure service administrational activities are maintained, reported and improved to agreed levels.
  • To provide ad-hoc documentation for administrative tasks and procedures and for it to be completed to a defined standard.
  • Manage stock checks and audits, including weekly and monthly reports that are required.
  • CI Charges to be sent to the hire desk in a timely manner and reported on correctly following the CI procedure.
  • Make sure the depot and all staff have the correct tools to work with i.e tablets, mobile phones, scanners etc.
  • Follow depot processes and procedures ensuring pre-hire inspections, service inspections and monthly inspections are carried out.
• Health and Safety
  • Ensure depot standards match accrediting body e.g. ISO 9001, 18001, Achilles.
  • Liaise with CQMS when necessary.
  • Ensure personal and team health & safety by maintaining a safe working environment through regular checks of work areas.
  • Ensure the depot is operating within H&S legislation.
  • Ensure equipment is loaded correctly, not left in public areas and maintained to fall within H&S legislation standards.
  • Monitor driving endorsements and check driver’s hours and tachographs.

What We’re Looking For

• Experience in customer service.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Ability to work on own initiative.
• Excellent telephone manner essential.
• Excellent Mechanical & hydraulic knowledge, experience and skills.
• Aptitude to learn.
• Team player.
• To have a good understanding of H&S standards.
• Driving licence essential.
• Experience of managing and developing a team.
• Understanding of Construction Industry (desirable).
• Knowledge of the plant hire industry (desirable).
• Knowledge of the hire industry (desirable).

Our Core Values

• Collaboration - Positive collaboration by working together and making decisions for the greater good – with open, honest, and respectful communication.
• Problem Solving- Proactive problem solving by coming to the table with ideas, recommendations, and solutions – instead of sitting back and waiting for others to raise an issue or fix a problem.
• Curiosity- Relentless curiosity where we continually strive to improve, learn, and grow by asking questions, seeking knowledge, and stretching beyond our comfort zone.

What We Can Offer You

• Salary sacrifice pension
• Free Tool Hire
• Life Assurance cover 3x salary
• Share save scheme
• Recommend a friend scheme
• Learning & Development – commitment to upskilling and developing our people, structured in house training available alongside external training where required
• Cycle to work scheme
• Long service recognition
• My Vp discounts – a variety of discounts and rewards on thousands of well-known brands
• Discounts on HP products
• EE mobile contract discount offers
• Health Shield (discounted premiums on health care cash plan)
• Regit Assist 24/7 accident helpline – free joining

A Little Bit about Us

Groundforce is the market-leading rental provider of excavation support systems and specialist products for the water, civil engineering, and construction industries. With a remarkable 60-year heritage, we offer comprehensive shoring and related services. Operating under the Groundforce banner, we provide a wide range of solutions, including shoring, piling, construction training, temporary bridging, and more. Our goal is to be the convenient one-stop shop for "total solutions" in the construction and civil engineering industry. At Groundforce, we pride ourselves on our divisions, including Groundforce Shorco, Piletec, Mr Cropper, Stopper Specialists, Groundforce Bridge, and Groundforce Training Services. We continually invest in acquiring associated businesses to enhance our product portfolio and offer reliable and high-quality equipment for our customers. Excellence is our priority. We hold ISO 9001, 14001, and OHSAS 18001 certifications, demonstrating our commitment to quality, environmental stewardship, and safety. Join Groundforce, where we deliver exceptional support, innovative solutions, and outstanding customer service. Apply today and be part of our team that takes pride in our industry-leading position.

Vp plc is an equal opportunities employer. We believe passionately that employing a diverse workforce is central to our success. We make recruiting decisions based on your experience and skills.