Manager – Small Manufacturing and Automotive Aftermarket Business

Job Title: Manager Location: Stevenage The Business We are a specialist manufacturer supplying safety-related products to the automotive aftermarket. We are a true SME—practical, fast-moving, and built on a hands-on workshop environment where doing things properly matters more than layers of process. The Opportunity This is a role for someone who wants to own and grow a business, not just run it. We are looking for a commercially driven leader to take day-to-day responsibility for the company, with a clear mandate to drive revenue, improve margins, and build for the future. This is not a caretaker role. We need someone who is hungry to grow the business, improve operations, and steadily raise standards. The Role (60% General Manager / 40% Commercial Manager) General Manager (60%) • Run the business day-to-day, leading a small team in a hands-on workshop environment. • Manage operations, stock, and supplier relationships to ensure efficiency and reliability. • Drive operational improvements on the shop floor—better organisation, workflow, and standards. • Use simple KPIs (revenue, gross margin, cash flow, stock levels, customer service) to guide decisions and improve performance. • Take ownership of outcomes, not just activity. Commercial Manager (40%) • Drive revenue growth with a sharp focus on pricing discipline and margin improvement. • Develop and grow digital channels including our website, eBay, Amazon, and trade accounts. • Proactively develop existing accounts, ensure every enquiry is responded to and followed up promptly, and identify new sales opportunities. • Make sound commercial decisions within tight budgets, using financial data to inform actions. Who You Are • A small-business practitioner, not a corporate manager—you are comfortable being close to operations and the shop floor. • Commercially sharp—you understand pricing, margins, cash flow, and trade-offs instinctively. • Hands-on and decisive—you move from problem to action, even without perfect information. • Solution-first and adaptable—you find creative ways to work within tight budgets and change approach when something isn’t working. • Tech-comfortable—you don’t need to code, but you are curious about systems, automation, and AI to reduce admin and improve sales follow-up, stock control, and reporting. • A leader who builds others—you can delegate effectively, build confidence, and help a small team grow. Background & Experience • Experience running or helping to run a small business or division. • Automotive aftermarket, manufacturing, engineering, or similar SME background preferred (seatbelt or safety experience is not required). • Commercial or sales experience is helpful but not essential. • Must understand how financial reports inform day-to-day decisions. What We Offer • Base salary: £40,000–£45,000. • Performance-related bonus linked to business results. • Longer-term upside (profit share or equity) for the right person, based on delivery and retention. In Summary • We are looking for someone who wants to build, improve, and scale a small manufacturing business. If you are commercially driven, hands-on, and ready to take real ownership, we want to hear from you.