Head of Engineering

Company Overview

The Airedale Group are the leading market design, installation, and maintenance provider for commercial kitchens in the UK hospitality and food service industry. We work alongside clients from the initial designs through to bespoke fabrication and installation. Coupled with the largest body of professional maintenance engineers in the country, we offer the complete end-to-end solution to our extensive client base. We have long-standing relationships with many of the biggest multi-site brands in the UK.

The Regional Head of Engineering is responsible for leading, managing, and developing regional engineering operations across refrigeration and catering equipment services. The Airedale Group comprises seven subsidiaries, and this role will oversee field service operations across two of our businesses:
Flowrite Services and Airedale Technical Care. This role ensures safe, compliant, and efficient delivery of planned and reactive maintenance, while driving performance, customer satisfaction, and commercial results.

Beyond operational delivery, The Regional Head of Engineering will be a visible, hands‑on leader who actively mentors and develops Engineering Managers and Supervisors. Raising standards of leadership, accountability, and behaviour across the field service teams. Taking full accountability for engineering standards, people management, health & safety, and operational excellence across the region.

With a strong focus on engagement, morale, and professionalism, this role—working in close partnership with the second Regional Head of Engineering—will drive a culture where people feel supported, challenged, and motivated to perform at their best.

Field-based / Remote

This vacancy is available at two locations. Applicants should note that there is one position in the North and one position in the South.

• Lead, coach, and develop Engineering Managers, Supervisors, and Engineers across the region.
• Build a high-performance, safety-first culture with clear accountability and engagement.
• Ensure effective resource planning, succession planning, and skills development.
• Manage recruitment, onboarding, performance reviews, and disciplinary processes where required.
• Address any performance issues confidently and fairly, supporting managers with difficult conversations and performance management procedures.
• Oversee regional delivery of refrigeration and catering equipment services, including reactive repairs & PPMs.
• Ensure service level agreements (SLAs) and KPIs are consistently achieved or exceeded.
• Drive standardisation of engineering processes, documentation, and ways of working.
• Support projects, mobilisations, and key customer contracts.
• Handle escalations professionally, ensuring timely and effective resolution.
• Act as regional lead for health, safety, and statutory compliance.
• Ensure full compliance with F-Gas regulations, food safety standards, electrical safety, and company H&S policies.
• Investigate incidents, near misses, and non-conformances, ensuring corrective actions are implemented.
• Promote behavioural safety and safe decision-making at all levels.
• Own regional engineering budgets, cost control, and productivity targets.
• Support pricing, margin protection, and cost-to-serve optimisation.
• Identify opportunities for growth, upselling, and service improvements.
• Contribute to tender support, contract reviews, and customer retention strategies.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives across safety, quality, and efficiency.
• Use data and performance metrics to identify trends and improvement actions.
• Champion innovation, digital tools, and best practice within engineering operations.

• Proven senior leader in field service engineering, with a background as a hands-on engineer, providing strong technical credibility.
• Experience of commercial refrigeration systems and commercial catering equipment is highly advantageous.
• Demonstrable experience managing large multi-site or regional engineering teams.
• Sound understanding of electrical safety, and H&S legislation.
• Proven success in coaching and developing engineering teams, maximising performance through strong motivational leadership and engagement.
• Strong commercial awareness and budget management experience.
• Experience of driving positive, sustainable change to support business growth and operational performance.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and decision-making skills.
• Relevant engineering qualifications (e.g. NVQ Level 3+, City & Guilds, or equivalent).
• Gas qualified (F-Gas OR COMCAT) would be highly beneficial.
• Experience working with national or multi-site customers.

The Airedale Group is expanding rapidly, employing over 700 people across multiple locations in the UK. This is a fantastic time to be joining the business with opportunities for career progression.