Not Your Typical Automotive Job
Are you the person everyone comes to when they can’t figure out what’s wrong with a car?
Do you enjoy motorcycles as much as cars? Have you built, restored or modified vehicles simply because you wanted to see what you could create?
Do you enjoy solving problems — and could you see yourself passing those skills on to young people?
If so, we might have the job for you.
4 Tech Training Ltd is looking for an experienced automotive professional, problem-solver and all-round workshop enthusiast to join our team in Blackpool and/or Preston.
This isn’t a traditional garage role.
One day you could be diagnosing a fault on a car, the next working on a motorcycle, and the day after helping learners bring a completely bespoke project to life.
We're looking for someone with genuine automotive knowledge and practical ability who would like to use their experience a little differently — helping young people develop skills, confidence and an enthusiasm for the automotive industry.
About 4 Tech Training
4 Tech Training is a specialist vocational Alternative Provision provider, supporting young people through practical, engaging education and training.
We work with learners with a wide range of individual needs, including SEND, SEMH and additional learning needs, many of whom have found that a traditional classroom environment isn't the best place for them to thrive.
Our automotive workshops provide an alternative.
Learners develop real practical skills, underpinning automotive knowledge and employability skills while working towards industry-recognised IMI automotive qualifications.
We work with small groups, allowing our team to build positive relationships with learners and provide individualised support.
That's where you come in.
Working alongside our tutors, mentors and management team, you'll use your automotive knowledge and practical experience to support young people in developing their skills.
This is a varied role combining hands-on automotive work, practical instruction, learner support and workshop activities.
Depending on your experience, you'll be involved in areas including:
- Carrying out and demonstrating automotive maintenance, diagnostic and repair tasks
- Cars, motorcycles and other automotive machinery
- Engines and transmissions
- Braking systems
- Steering and suspension
- Wheels and tyres
- Vehicle electrical systems
- Diagnostics and fault-finding
- Servicing and general vehicle maintenance
- Restoration and modification
- Bespoke and custom vehicle projects
- Fabrication and practical engineering activities
- Demonstrating the correct and safe use of hand tools, power tools and workshop equipment
- Helping learners develop practical skills and underpinning automotive knowledge
- Supporting learners towards their IMI automotive qualifications
- Supporting practical assessment activities and recording learner evidence
- Using basic IT systems for learner records, evidence and communication
- Maintaining a safe, organised and engaging workshop environment
- Supporting small groups and individual learners with different abilities and needs
- Encouraging positive behaviour, participation and employability skills
- Building positive and professional relationships with young people
- Working collaboratively with tutors, mentors and management
- Following safeguarding, health and safety and organisational procedures
We particularly like people who see an unusual project arrive in the workshop and immediately think:
“Right... how are we going to make this work?”
You don't necessarily need to have worked in education before.
You'll ideally have:
- Strong practical automotive knowledge and experience
- Experience working with cars, motorcycles or other automotive machinery
- Good diagnostic and fault-finding ability
- Confidence carrying out vehicle maintenance and repair tasks
- Confidence using workshop tools and equipment safely
- The ability to explain practical tasks clearly and simply
- Good communication skills
- Patience and the ability to adapt your approach to different learners
- Good organisational skills
- Basic IT and digital record-keeping skills
- A positive attitude towards supporting young people
- The ability to work independently and as part of a close-knit team
- A professional and safety-conscious approach
- A full UK driving licence
We don't expect one person to be an expert in absolutely everything.
We're much more interested in finding someone with broad automotive knowledge, a willingness to get stuck in and the ability to work through a problem.
Do I Need to Be a Teacher?
No.
This is important.
A teaching, training or assessing qualification would certainly be advantageous, as would previous experience working within education, SEND or Alternative Provision — but these aren't essential for the right automotive professional.
We're equally interested in experienced technicians, mechanics and automotive professionals who haven't worked in education before but have the knowledge, practical ability, patience and personality to inspire young people.
For the right person, we can support you in developing the education and training side of the role.
So, if you've spent years developing your automotive skills and fancy doing something a little different with them, we'd particularly like to hear from you.
Blackpool, Preston – Or Both?
We operate automotive training centres in Blackpool and Preston.
Ideally, we'd love to find someone who is willing and able to work flexibly across both locations, with that additional flexibility and responsibility reflected in the salary offered.
However, please don't let that stop you applying if you're looking for a permanent base.
We're also happy to consider strong candidates who would prefer to be based specifically at either.
Finding the right person matters more to us than finding the perfect postcode.
Working Pattern
This role offers a working pattern that is a little different from a traditional automotive position.
4 Tech Training operates this role over 41 weeks of the year, broadly aligned with the academic year.
This means you can use your automotive skills in a rewarding role while benefiting from significantly more time away from work throughout the year than you would typically find within the motor trade.
The 41-week working pattern includes our learner delivery weeks together with additional days for staff training, preparation, development and other organisational requirements.
Full details of the working calendar will be discussed during the recruitment process.
Safeguarding
4 Tech Training Ltd is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.
The successful applicant will be subject to safer recruitment procedures, including an Enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references, together with any other appropriate pre-employment checks required for the role.
Pay: £26,000.00-£28,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- On-site parking
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Blackpool FY1: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (preferred)
Application question(s):
- What interests you about using your automotive skills to support young people in a vocational education environment?
Work Location: In person
