Ben Morris
Midsomer Norton,Somerset
Summary
Accomplished Engineering Manager with 13+ years’ experience leading large-scale engineering operations within the public transport sector. Proven success managing multi-site depots, large engineering workforces, and fleets of 850+ vehicles, consistently improving reliability, safety, compliance, and financial performance. Experienced in delivering major transformation programmes, including depot electrification, fleet modernisation, organisational change, and operational improvement. Technical expertise with strategic leadership to build high-performing teams, optimise asset performance, and deliver sustainable business results in complex, safety-critical environments. Recognised for strong stakeholder engagement, driving continuous improvement, and embedding a culture of engineering excellence.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
5
5
years of post-secondary education
1
1
Certification
Work history
Engineering Manager
FirstBus
Bath, Wells & Keynsham
04.2026 - 06.2026
- Lead engineering operations across three depots, managing a fleet of ~200 vehicles and multidisciplinary teams to deliver safe, reliable, and cost-effective services.
- Manage multi-million-pound engineering budgets, ensuring cost control and delivery of financial targets.
- Managed delivery of a major diesel-to-electric depot transformation, including infrastructure installation, workforce readiness, and operational integration.
- Lead engineering support for the introduction of EV technology, covering maintenance planning, technical training, and risk management.
- Implement asset management and preventative maintenance strategies to maximise fleet life and improve reliability.
- Drive health, safety, and environmental performance, embedding a proactive safety culture and ensuring full compliance with legislation and company standards.
- Build strong relationships with operational, commercial, and external stakeholders to align engineering activities with business objectives.
- Develop, coach, and mentor engineering teams to strengthen capability and succession pipelines.
Head of Engineering
FirstBus Wales & West
09.2023 - 04.2026
- Led the engineering function across 12 depots, providing strategic and technical leadership to regional operations.
- Managed workforce of 345 engineering professionals, focusing on recruitment, development, and succession planning to ensure future leadership.
- Accountable for performance and availability of a fleet of 850+ buses, ensuring maximum reliability and minimal downtime.
- Oversaw multi-million-pound capital and operational budgets, enhancing engineering KPIs and ensuring financial control.
- Drove cultural and organisational change, fostering a high-performance, safety-focused environment.
- Led major change programmes for fleet modernisation and infrastructure upgrades, aligning engineering capabilities with organisational goals.
- Collaborated with operational, commercial, and executive teams to support business growth and regulatory compliance.
- Conducted engineering audits across multiple sites to ensure compliance with policies, regulations, and industry best practice.
Engineering Manager
FirstBus West of England
Bath & Wells
01.2019 - 01.2023
Workshop Manager
FirstBus Hampshire, Dorset & Berkshire
Southampton
01.2016 - 01.2019
Project Manager – Engineering Efficiency
FirstGroup (UK-Wide)
01.2015 - 01.2016
Engineering Graduate
FirstGroup / First HDB
01.2013 - 01.2015
Education
MSc - Reliability Engineering & Asset Management
University of Manchester
Manchester - United Kingdom 01.2016 - 01.2018
BEng (Hons) - Mechanical Engineering – First Class
Liverpool John Moores University
Liverpool - United Kingdom 01.2010 - 01.2013
Skills
- Engineering Compliance & Risk Management
- Vehicle Reliability & Asset Lifecycle Management
- Lean & Reliability Engineering
- Budget & Financial Management
- Project Management
- Strategic Planning & Execution
- Multi-site Operational Management
- Organisational Change & Continuous Improvement
- Talent Management
- Stakeholder Engagement & Communication
- Team Leadership & People Development
- Health, Safety & Environmental Leadership
Certification
Transport Manager Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC)
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Engineering Manager
FirstBus
04.2026 - 06.2026
Head of Engineering
FirstBus Wales & West
09.2023 - 04.2026
Engineering Manager
FirstBus West of England
01.2019 - 01.2023
MSc - Reliability Engineering & Asset Management
University of Manchester
01.2016 - 01.2018
Workshop Manager
FirstBus Hampshire, Dorset & Berkshire
01.2016 - 01.2019
Project Manager – Engineering Efficiency
FirstGroup (UK-Wide)
01.2015 - 01.2016
Engineering Graduate
FirstGroup / First HDB
01.2013 - 01.2015
BEng (Hons) - Mechanical Engineering – First Class
Liverpool John Moores University
01.2010 - 01.2013