Vehicle Damage Assessor

Job title: Vehicle Damage Assessor

Department: Activate Accident Repair

Location: Unit A and B, Sandfield Industrial Estate, Oldfield Rd, Hampton TW12 2HR

Reports to: Bodyshop Manager

Hours: 45 hours per week

We’re looking for a Vehicle Damage Assessor to join our team, and play a key role at Activate Accident Repair.

Activate Group is a growing UK business approaching 1,000+ team members nationwide. This is an exciting opportunity to build a long‑term career with a company that values its people and offers genuine development and progression opportunities.

Role overview

To manage and provide technical expertise to the site VDAs and customer care team, whilst working as a VDA, delivering estimates for the cost of repair for damaged vehicles.

Benefits

• 33 days holiday (including bank holidays)
• Quarterly bonus scheme
• Health Shield cash health plan for all
• Annual pay review
• Enhanced Maternity / Paternity / shared parental / adoption pay
• Life assurance: three times basic salary
• Free breakfast cereals and milk daily
• Free fruit – every Monday
• Free breakfasts sent to site every Wednesday

Key Responsibilities

• Carry out visual inspections to identify any accidental damage caused to avoid uninsured loss damage costs
• Estimate by considering the most economical repair method
• Provide explanations of the repair procedure and process to team members and customers
• Value vehicles at market value to determine the repairable economics
• Review all open job cards (daily) and report any ongoing and recurrent work in progress problems, as well as ensuring all information on job cards is recorded accurately for invoicing
• Assist in the correct evaluation and justification of bodywork warranty claims and provide comprehensive explanations thereof
• Estimate repairs required together with the time to be allowed, materials and parts required for repairs and explain work required, to customers and to insurance and other assessors in an efficient, pleasant, courteous and professional manner
• Make efficient use of all modern estimating methods and work in line with approved times
• Bring to customers’ attention any problems, faults and other issues that might impact on the performance and safety of their vehicles
• Maintain awareness of incoming vehicles and flag any issues to the Workshop / Bodyshop Manager
• Awareness of and compliance with Health & Safety requirements

Skills & Experience

• ATA qualified (or equivalent)
• Relevant experience as an estimator
• Ability to qualify and quantify repairs required
• Ability to negotiate effectively with third parties
• Great customer service skills
• Great verbal and written communication skills
• Collaborative team member, with strong relationship building skills
• Ability to create an estimate both manually and via company systems
• Up to date technical knowledge and skills including SMART repairs

What We Offer

• Competitive salary (DOE)
• Quarterly bonus scheme
• Supportive and professional working environment
• Opportunity to grow with a dynamic and ambitious company
• Career development and progression opportunities

What you can expect from us

At Activate Group, we want everyone to have the tools and support they need to do their best work. We’re an innovative business that continuously reviews and improves our systems, processes and ways of working, making sure they support our teams to do their jobs effectively.

Every role at Activate Group is aligned to our wider business vision and purpose – making someone’s bad day better. You’ll understand how your role contributes to the bigger picture and how your work helps deliver excellent outcomes for customer and partners.

We believe work should be enjoyable. We make time to celebrate success, recognise achievements and bring people together at team events and company-wide celebrations. We’ll also support your ongoing development through regular feedback and career planning.

Whether you’re based in one of our contact centres in Halifax, Peterborough or Huddersfield, working at an Activate Accident Repair (AAR) site, or working from home, you’ll be part of a supportive culture where people are encouraged to succeed.

A bit about us

Activate Group is a fast-growing business approaching 1,000 team members nationwide.

We work with some of the UK’s largest fleets and insurance companies, supporting drivers that have been involved in road incidents through our contact centres in Halifax, Peterborough and Huddersfield.

We manage every step of the repair journey - repairing vehicles at our own Activate Accident Repair (AAR) body shops, as well as through a UK-wide network of trusted independent repair partners.

We also work with the UK’s largest vehicle manufacturers, supporting their approved repair programmes, and deliver innovative technology solutions to fleets, vehicle repair centres and dealerships.

Our purpose & values

Our purpose underpins everything we do: Make someone’s bad day better

Our values define how we work with our team members, customers and suppliers:

• Make it happen – Be accountable. Take the initiative, work fast, and do a great job.
• Strive for better – Be bold. Challenge the norm – make small improvements often.
• Win together – Be a team player. Win together, learn together, respect each other.

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