Job Title: Automotive Paint Shop Operative (Colourist)
Salary: £17.14 per hour / £35,749.24 annual
Location: BCA Thurleigh
Working Hours: Any 5 in 7 days 09:30am to 6pm
Type of Employment: Permanent
Join the UK’s largest B2B used vehicle service
At BCA, we’re altogether, more. More than just a normal vehicle remarketing company. More than just any other place to work. We’re Europe's largest vehicle remarketing company, the backbone of the UK’s automotive supply chain, the best place to build the career you want.
Now, this is where you fit in…
We’re looking for down-to-earth people, with bags of energy, ready to make their mark on the automotive industry. Our Site Operations and Driving teams play a vital role across our business. Here you can build on your knowledge and find your specialty at one of our sites or on the road – the opportunities are endless.
Main purpose of the role:
The Colourist supports the daily production of the Bodyshop by preparing accurate paint mixes, ensuring colour consistency, and maintaining high standards of finish for all vehicles. Working closely with paint technicians, the role involves using digital colour‑matching tools, mixing water‑based paints to precise formulas, producing spray‑out cards, and managing workflow to meet production targets.
The Colourist also assists with general workshop operations, reports any pre‑existing damage that may affect repair quality, and follows all Health & Safety, environmental and company policies to ensure vehicles are completed to customer and manufacturer standards.
Job Duties:
Colour identification — review vehicle job cards and repair documentation to determine the exact colour, variant and finish required for each job.
Precision colour matching — use colour‑match scanners, spectrophotometers and spray‑out cards to achieve accurate matches.
Digital formulation — operate computer‑based mixing software to calculate correct paint formulas, ensuring consistency and compliance with manufacturer standards.
Paint mixing & preparation — weigh, mix and prepare water‑based paints to precise ratios, maintaining quality and repeatability for the paint technicians.
Quality control — produce spray‑out cards when required to verify accuracy, finish and coverage before releasing paint to the workshop.
Workflow planning — organise daily workload, prioritising urgent jobs and supporting efficient workshop flow to meet deadlines.
Personal Requirements:
- Professional collaboration — able to build positive, effective working relationships with colleagues across the Bodyshop.
- High‑volume performance — capable of delivering consistent output in a fast‑paced environment to meet departmental KPIs.
- Quality focus — committed to achieving the high standards required by customers and manufacturer guidelines.
- Attention to detail — maintains accuracy in colour matching, paint preparation and documentation.
- Relevant experience — previous experience in a similar paint preparation or colour‑matching role (minimum 1 year).
- Paint knowledge — strong understanding of water‑based paints, mixing processes and colour‑matching techniques.
We’ve put everything in place to ensure you thrive. Competitive salaries, strong core values and an excellent benefits package that includes:
- Onsite parking
- Company Pension Scheme
- Cycle to work scheme
- An Employee Assistance Programme
- Enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption leave
- Access to trained Mental Health First Aiders
- Access to BCA Rewards which provides online and store discounts with a range of retailers
- And so much more…
BCA Academy
Our business is growing and evolving at a significant rate and we need to ensure we have the right people with the right skills in order to maintain its success. We need to build our own talent now for the future. It is for this reason we have our own IMI approved training academy. The BCA Academy is there to support your technical training needs.
As the automotive industry changes, we’re changing with it - putting our people in the front seat for the journey. We’re the number one in what we do for a reason and that’s because of the people we have on our teams. If you want to be a part of a business like this; unrivalled, exciting and appreciative of the work you do, join BCA.
We are proud to be Level 1 Disability Confident and committed to ensuring our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible.
Our policy is to employ the best qualified people and provide equal opportunity for the advancement of employees including promotion and training and not to discriminate against any person because of gender, race, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, religion, belief, or disability.
