Garage Hand / Valet
Job Title: Garage Hand / Valet
Salary: The starting salary is £31,779, which includes allowances totalling £2,928.
The salary is broken down as £28,851 basic salary, which will increase annually until you reach the top of the scale £31,011. Plus, a location allowance of £1,928 and a non-pensionable allowance of £1,000.
Location: Across London - Paragon, Rainham, Wimbledon Ponton Road and Heathrow
The police vehicle fleet is an important physical asset. It enables officers and staff to do their job, carries key equipment required, and provides safe transportation for the public / prisoners.
The role of Fleet Services is to keep the Met mobile, ensuring we can detect, respond to, and prevent crime whilst building public trust and confidence. Fleet Services are committed to leading with innovation, responsibility and environmental consciousness, striving for a fleet that is safer, smarter and cleaner, with a focused approach as follows:
- We will manage responsibly to deliver an excellent service and achieve value for money
- We will deliver strategies to manage the fleet efficiently and effectively
- We will deliver a fit-for-purpose, flexible and available fleet
The complex needs of modern policing requires a wide range of vehicle types. We operate a fleet of over 5,200 assets on the road and river, as well as over 1,000 pedal cycles. London is the most complex and diverse city in the UK, and our fleet is reflective of that. We currently have over 220 different types of vehicles supporting all operational commands including armed response vehicles, HGVs, patrol cars, motorbikes and pedal cycles.
Customers can be broadly grouped into three strategic pillars – Frontline Policing, Met Ops & Performance, and Counter Terrorism / Specialist Operations. Collectively this covers pan London requirements as well as national CT responsibilities.
The overall fleet requirements and volumes are owned and governed by operational leaders at the Strategic Fleet Board. Operational teams are accountable for the volume of fleet required to undertake their roles, and Fleet Services support and enable effective decision making through provision of information and technical / industry knowledge.
Key responsibilities
- Administration Support - Assist with key maintenance processes of discreet and specialist vehicle fleet within Fleet Services' specialist workshop by providing practical administration of all aspects of repair, maintenance and cleaning of vehicles and the workshop. Reduce vehicle maintenance costs and maximise fleet availability by ensuring vehicle administration is carried out in a timely manner.
- Vehicle movements - Collect and deliver vehicles to local dealers and the collision repair team to aid with warranty repairs, disposal MOT tests and collision repairs.
- Vehicle checks - Inspect all vehicles collected from external agents to ensure they are acceptable prior to completion of collection documentation. Inspect vehicles that arrive on site, ensure the correct completion of the vehicle log book and identify unreported exterior damage.
- Vehicle cleaning - Clean vehicles / vessels to pre-described standards; normally involves cleaning all exterior bodywork, road wheels, glass and interior vacuum cleaning
- Tyres – when instructed, replace all vehicle tyres using the appropriate tools and workshop machinery, including the replacement of run flat tyres. Work to the required technical standards.
- Workshop consumable items - Manage workshop consumable items related to the replacement of vehicle tyres, including stock checks and liaising with the Parts Team to ensure the timely re-ordering of stock. Deliver and pick up parts as requested.
- Windscreens – when instructed, fix repairable vehicle windscreens using the latest equipment.
- Mileage data - Capture mileage data of vehicles under repair on a regular basis and correctly enter on to Fleet Services' IT systems.
- Workshop cleaning / maintenance - Regularly clean the vehicle / vessel workshop, including the separation of recyclable items and organise collection and clean spillages in a timely manner. Empty workshop waste oil receptors. Ensure all hazardous liquids are returned to the appropriate flame vault or dedicated storage area. Ensure areas are clean and tidy at all times
- Workshop equipment / tools – where required, ensure that tools are stored in the correct locations for use
- Workshop Deliveries - Facilitate workshop deliveries, inspecting and checking goods prior to delivery sign off.
- Health & Safety - Take primary responsibility for own health and safety and of others. Implement and comply with all Health & Safety training and / or requirements and wear the correct personal protective equipment for each task.
- Lifting / crewing vessels – operate syncro hoist which is used to lift vessels from the Thames into the Boat Yard. After a period of training the Jobholder will be expected to crew vessels on the Thames, prior to the vessel being brought into the workshop or retuned to active duties. Safely operate fork lift truck, and electric tug. (Marine only)
- Boat trolleys - greasing all the wheels on the boat trolleys on a weekly basis. Priming and painting the boat trolleys to ensure that they are protected against corrosive elements (Marine only)
- Boat Yard tasks - The jobholder will be responsible for looking after all the spare batteries and putting them on charge as required. The Jobholder with training will be expected to splice rope ends and to replace damaged or frayed mooring lines on the Boat Yard pontoon (Marine only)
Additional Information
There are both day and night shifts available in the following areas:
- Day Shift: Paragon, Rainham, Wimbledon and Heathrow
- Night Shift: Rainham & Ponton Road
How to apply
Click the apply now button below and start your career at the Met. Applications will be via a detailed CV and online application form.
Completed applications must be submitted by 23:55 on 22nd July 2025.