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Proactive Personnel Ltd is a permanent and temporary staff supplier operating in a wide range of industries across the Midlands, Shropshire, the North West and beyond. The firm has a 24/7 out-of-hours service and they also do not charge for the submission of candidate CVs. They are Advanced Stronger Together Members, Gangmasters Licensed, CIRAS Members and are audited by RISQS.
34 Market St, Telford, Shropshire, TF2 6DU
+ 11 other offices
Local recruiters will talk straight on pay rates, which helps employers set offers that land acceptance. Vehicle technicians in Shropshire often sit around £30,000 to £40,000, with MOT testers and master techs reaching £38,000 to £50,000 where diagnostics or EV work is central. Service advisors tend to be £24,000 to £30,000, bodyshop panel beaters and paint sprayers are often £35,000 to £45,000 depending on shifts, bonus, and site volume. Temp agencies quote hourly ranges, for example £14 to £22 for workshop cover, and will explain uplift for nights or weekends. Recruitment fees for permanent hires are usually a percentage of basic, many employment firms work between 12 percent and 20 percent, with rebates tied to start dates and probation. For temporary or contract work, agencies outline pay rates, their margin, holiday accrual, and any onboarding charges in a clear costed schedule.
Recruitment consultants in this space screen for hard proof of skills, not just a tidy CV. Common checks include IMI accreditation, Level 3 light vehicle, EV and hybrid certification, ADAS calibration experience, air conditioning F Gas, and current MOT tester status from DVSA. HGV technicians often carry IRTEC or manufacturer training, drivers need the right licence class with Driver CPC up to date. Workshop controllers and service managers are judged on KPIs such as hours sold, VHC conversion, and CSI. Executive search teams handling dealer principals will want a track record across multi site or high volume franchises, with references that speak to retention and profit growth.
Shropshire mixes town and rural, so travel time matters for shifts and call outs. Recruiters map talent pools around Shrewsbury, Telford, Oswestry, Market Drayton, and Ludlow. M54 links feed candidates from Wolverhampton and Birmingham, the A5 and A49 support cross county commuting, and some workshops near the border attract techs from Mid Wales. Business parks such as Stafford Park, Hortonwood, and T54 in Telford hold parts distribution, bodyshops, and tier suppliers, so agencies often run vacancy clusters there and plan interview slots around commute patterns.
EV upskilling is the headline gap, with many garages seeking techs who can carry out high voltage work without shadowing. Diagnostic depth is another pinch point, as sites want people who can fault find across multiple brands, code modules, and complete road tests, not just swap parts. Rural distances can complicate early shifts, so recruiters advise on rota tweaks or van share for mobile roles. Retention rises when pay bands are transparent, overtime is predictable, and progression is mapped, experienced agencies address these points in the offer to reduce fall through.
For junior roles, agencies promote apprenticeship starts through local colleges and dealer networks, often pairing GCSE maths and English with day release learning. Workshop helpers can step into PDI or tyre fitting, then progress to service technician with IMI units. Parts advisor pathways start with stock control and EPC use, moving into warranty and back counter, service advisors build from receptionist roles once DMS familiarity is in place. Clear routes help employers find employees who can grow through the business, and they give jobseekers confidence to register with an agency early.
Staffing agencies handle a wide sweep, from vehicle technician, MOT tester, and master tech, to service advisor, parts advisor, warranty admin, and workshop controller. Bodyshop recruitment covers panel, paint, MET, and estimators. On the management side, recruiters place aftersales managers, service managers, and dealer principals through executive search. Commercial vehicle teams look after HGV and PSV technicians, mobile mechanics, and breakdown fitters. Career steps often move from technician to senior tech or workshop controller, then into aftersales leadership for those with the right people skills.
Employers pick contract terms to match workshop load, seasonal tyre peaks, or bodyshop backlogs. Temporary cover solves holidays and sickness, permanent hires secure long term capability, and contract assignments support projects such as site launches or body repair surges. Recruiters explain the pros and cons in plain numbers, including agency costs, notice periods, and how extensions work. Candidates can choose patterns that fit life outside work, nights, four on four off, or standard weekdays.
Shropshire carries a healthy mix of main dealer groups, independents, fast fit centres, rental and fleet maintenance hubs, body repair operations, and parts distribution sites. Agricultural and plant service firms add demand for diesel and hydraulics know how. Proximity to the West Midlands means franchise brand exposure is wide, so recruitment agencies can tap transfer candidates trained on major platforms, then anchor them to roles closer to home.
Agencies protect employers by checking right to work, driving licence points, and where needed, clean drug and alcohol tests for safety critical work. Workshops expect torque tool calibration records, correct use of PPE, and awareness of Health and Safety Executive guidance. MOT roles require a current tester number and recent CPD, and any road testing must sit within the employer’s insurance. For customer facing roles, references must evidence cash handling and DPA awareness for service reception.
Do agencies cover rural garages as well as town workshops?
Yes, most recruiters plan shortlists around commute times on the A5, A49, and M54 and will advise on shift tweaks where travel is long.
How fast can I hire staff for a busy aftersales department?
Temp cover can start within days if compliance is ready, permanent placements move faster when salaries and recruitment fees are pre agreed.
Can candidates register with more than one recruiter?
Yes, though keeping communication tidy helps, confirm where your CV has been sent to avoid duplication.
What contract options suit a bodyshop clearing a backlog?
A mix of contract MET and panel with weekend overtime often works, with a plan to convert strong performers to permanent once the workload settles.
What helps retention in Shropshire dealerships?
Clear pay bands, training on EV and ADAS, and rota stability keep teams together, recruiters can advise on each point during offer build.
Recruiters know the labour market and the workforce quirks of Shropshire, they brief candidates on workshop culture, tooling expectations, and realistic start dates, and they help local employers write job ads that land the right experience. Employers get support to hire staff quickly, set pay that matches the job market, and keep recruitment fees and agency costs within budget. Jobseekers get guidance on CVs, tool lists, and interview runs, and can register with an agency for temporary, permanent, or contract work. Automotive recruitment agencies in Shropshire keep the process moving for both sides, with steady communication and offers that stick.