M&A Zing (S2EP6) - Jan-Marc Pickhan’s Playbook: Transforming UK Engineering SMEs Through Acquisition
Season 2, Episode 6, Aug 13, 05:00 PM
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Jan-Marc Pickhan left a corporate career with Schneider Electric to build and transform UK engineering SMEs through acquisition. In this episode, he shares his leadership approach, cultural turnarounds, tech adoption, and lessons from running multi-site manufacturing groups in a challenging talent market.
This week on M&A Zing, Gareth sits down with Jan-Marc Pickhan, a serial acquirer who has built three engineering groups - Allied Global Engineering, GE Engineering, and Suffolk ES Solutions - comprising five companies across the North West and West Midlands.
Jan-Marc’s journey took him from a decade-long corporate career at Schneider Electric in Germany, Switzerland, and France to relocating to the UK to oversee and grow mature owner-led engineering businesses. He discusses:
👉 Cultural transformation: moving from closed, owner-led environments to open, transparent, trust-based workplaces.
👉 Tackling “tribal knowledge” and undocumented processes that threaten operational continuity.
👉 Applying German precision and British grit to leadership - direct, transparent, but adaptable.
👉 Leveraging technology and AI tools (including Microsoft Copilot) to solve problems, speed up processes, and cut costs.
👉 Navigating the skilled labour shortage in UK manufacturing and the need to invest in training pipelines.
👉 The reality of post-acquisition transformation: restructuring, bottleneck removal, and strategic automation.
👉 Why getting hands-on in every role post-acquisition accelerates understanding and builds credibility with teams.
If you’re considering acquiring a traditional SME—particularly in engineering—this episode offers candid insights into the challenges and opportunities of transforming these businesses for the future.
Timestamps
[00:00] Introduction to Jan-Marc Pickhan and his acquisition journey
[01:23] From Schneider Electric to UK SME ownership
[03:31] Overview of the three engineering groups acquired
[05:09] Leadership style – German precision meets British grit
[06:50] Building a culture of openness and trust
[09:04] Fixing owner-led, “tribal knowledge” businesses
[11:44] Common bottlenecks in back-office and production
[14:27] Why engineering SMEs? The undervalued backbone of UK industry
[17:20] Seller profiles and succession realities
[19:02] Buying transformation opportunities vs. turnkey businesses
[20:17] The ongoing journey of transformation
[22:30] Engineering at a crossroads – traditional vs. transformative
[26:06] Adopting AI tools like Microsoft Copilot in manufacturing
[31:29] Skilled labour shortages and recruitment challenges
[36:44] Advice to past self: directors should work in the business early
[40:39] Immersive leadership – learning from the shop floor
[44:33] Cultivating continuous improvement from within
[45:21] Goals for the next 12 months – automation and efficiency
[46:13] How to connect with Jan-Marc and his message for sellers
Useful Links & Resources:
Connect with Jan-Marc Pickhan on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/janmarcpickhan
Join the BizCrunch Acquisition Community
https://www.bizcrunch.co/community
Jan-Marc’s journey took him from a decade-long corporate career at Schneider Electric in Germany, Switzerland, and France to relocating to the UK to oversee and grow mature owner-led engineering businesses. He discusses:
👉 Cultural transformation: moving from closed, owner-led environments to open, transparent, trust-based workplaces.
👉 Tackling “tribal knowledge” and undocumented processes that threaten operational continuity.
👉 Applying German precision and British grit to leadership - direct, transparent, but adaptable.
👉 Leveraging technology and AI tools (including Microsoft Copilot) to solve problems, speed up processes, and cut costs.
👉 Navigating the skilled labour shortage in UK manufacturing and the need to invest in training pipelines.
👉 The reality of post-acquisition transformation: restructuring, bottleneck removal, and strategic automation.
👉 Why getting hands-on in every role post-acquisition accelerates understanding and builds credibility with teams.
If you’re considering acquiring a traditional SME—particularly in engineering—this episode offers candid insights into the challenges and opportunities of transforming these businesses for the future.
Timestamps
[00:00] Introduction to Jan-Marc Pickhan and his acquisition journey
[01:23] From Schneider Electric to UK SME ownership
[03:31] Overview of the three engineering groups acquired
[05:09] Leadership style – German precision meets British grit
[06:50] Building a culture of openness and trust
[09:04] Fixing owner-led, “tribal knowledge” businesses
[11:44] Common bottlenecks in back-office and production
[14:27] Why engineering SMEs? The undervalued backbone of UK industry
[17:20] Seller profiles and succession realities
[19:02] Buying transformation opportunities vs. turnkey businesses
[20:17] The ongoing journey of transformation
[22:30] Engineering at a crossroads – traditional vs. transformative
[26:06] Adopting AI tools like Microsoft Copilot in manufacturing
[31:29] Skilled labour shortages and recruitment challenges
[36:44] Advice to past self: directors should work in the business early
[40:39] Immersive leadership – learning from the shop floor
[44:33] Cultivating continuous improvement from within
[45:21] Goals for the next 12 months – automation and efficiency
[46:13] How to connect with Jan-Marc and his message for sellers
Useful Links & Resources:
Connect with Jan-Marc Pickhan on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/janmarcpickhan
Join the BizCrunch Acquisition Community
https://www.bizcrunch.co/community