Job Title: Managing Director
Location: Edinburgh (Onsite, with regular travel to a secondary UK site)
Reports To: Group Managing Director
About the Company
A £5M turnover technical services provider specialising in statutory inspections and compliance testing is seeking a new Managing Director. The company is accredited to ISO 17020 and delivers a wide range of statutory examinations (PUWER, LOLER, PSSR, COSHH) and fixed wiring inspections (BS7671). The operational team includes over 45 highly disciplined field technicians — the majority with ex-military backgrounds — supported by commercial and back-office staff across two UK locations.
Work has traditionally come through established broker relationships, with limited direct sales activity to date. The business now stands at an inflection point, poised for a period of professionalisation and commercial growth under new leadership.
The Opportunity
Following the planned retirement of the current Managing Director, the business is seeking a commercially minded, strategic leader to drive the next phase of expansion. This is an exceptional opportunity to lead a well-established but agile operation, bringing structure, sales capability, and strategic vision to a technically proficient team.
Key Responsibilities
Leadership & Culture
* Lead and inspire a 40+ person team across technical and support functions
* Instil a high-performance, customer-first culture
* Act as a present and visible leader who mentors and motivates
Commercial Development
* Own and grow all commercial aspects of the business, particularly broker relationships
* Design and implement the company’s first direct sales strategy
* Identify new markets and regional growth opportunities targeting 10%+ annual growth
Operational Excellence
* Work closely with the operations leader to maintain best-in-class service delivery
* Ensure adherence to relevant ISO and regulatory standards
* Drive improvements in systems and internal processes, currently reliant on a bespoke platform
Financial Oversight & Strategy
* Full P&L responsibility for a £5M turnover business
* Drive improvements in profit margins
* Set and execute strategic goals aligned with wider group ambitions
Candidate Profile
Essential Requirements
* Senior leadership experience in technical services, engineering, or industrial sectors
* Full P&L ownership in businesses with £3–10M revenue
* Strong commercial acumen and strategic thinking
* Understanding of the insurance, inspection, or compliance industries
* Experience leading teams of 25+ employees
* Comfortable in a lean business environment with hands-on responsibilities
* Credibility and presence to lead a highly disciplined, veteran-heavy workforce
* Based in or open to relocation to Edinburgh
Preferred Experience
* History of scaling or professionalising SME environments
* Exposure to inspection, compliance, or regulatory sectors
* Experience working with brokers or channel partners
What’s on Offer
* Full leadership responsibility with autonomy and influence
* The opportunity to lead a respected technical business through a major growth phase
* A clearly defined route to equity participation, with significant upside potential (5–7x ROI)
* A values-driven, high-integrity culture with real opportunity for impact