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S2 Ep6: M&A Zing (S2EP6) - Jan-Marc Pickhan’s Playbook: Transforming UK Engineering SMEs Through Acquisition
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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
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