What do I need to join Shift Hero?

You’ll need to provide: 1) Business registration details, 2) Business bank account, 3) Photo ID, 4) Right to work if applicable, 5) Level 3 qualification minimum, 6) Proof of £5m Public & Product Liability Insurance (only when accepting work). Visit our getting started and document upload guides for full steps.

Can I choose when I work?

Yes. Shift Hero gives you complete flexibility to manage your own schedule. Work when you want — part-time, full-time, or casually.

We pay weekly, every Friday, for the shifts you complete through the platform.

How does earning with Shift Hero compare to permanent employment?

With Shift Hero, your hourly rate is often higher. You're in control of how often you work and how much you earn, rather than being bound by a fixed salary.

Should I worry about job security as a contractor?

Many engineers value the flexibility and high demand. When demand is high, you’re less reliant on any single employer.

What if I don’t pass the verification stage?

We’ll help you understand what’s missing and suggest steps to become eligible in the future.

What industries does Shift Hero support?

We support engineering contractors across food, beverage, automotive, pharmaceutical, manufacturing, and utilities sectors.

Can I work through Shift Hero and another agency at the same time?

Yes, you can use Shift Hero alongside other agencies or clients. There’s no exclusivity.

How do I view or apply for available shifts?

After verification, you'll get access to our platform, where you can view and accept shifts that match your skills and availability.

Is there support if I run into an issue on site?

Yes — our team is on hand to support you during active shifts via direct contact channels.

Is Shift Hero part of a bigger company?

Yes — Shift Hero is powered by ECS-UK, a leading engineering service provider with expertise in automation, controls, and maintenance projects.

What is the full job description?

Shift Hero engineers are expected to provide breakdown and maintenance support across various plant machinery. The role includes liaising with customers, preventive maintenance, fault diagnosis, and reporting. A Level 3 qualification, strong problem-solving skills, and experience with electrical and mechanical systems are required.

Join the Shift Hero
Network - Work on Your Terms

Flexible, high-paying maintenance engineering jobs - project based work and on-demand shifts

Engineers join us - Shift hero shift cover app for maintenance engineers

Pick up engineering shifts or project work that fits your schedule, total flexibility, no pressure.

Gain Access to a wide range of maintenance engineering shifts and project work.

Choose the shifts and projects that suit your schedule and skills.

Get paid weekly

Ready to Join? Here's What You'll Need

Set up as a Sole Trader or Limited Company
Mechanical/Electrical/Multi-skilled/Automation Engineer
Relevant engineering qualification (minimum Level 3)
Public & Product Liability insurance (minimum cover £5 mil)
Smartphone with iOS 13.6 / Android 6 or above

Spend less time searching for
shifts, more time earning

Simply tell us the areas you would like to work and get notified immediately of available shifts in your area.

View all your shifts in one place and get notified before the start of each shift.

Start now for free

Join 100s of happy engineers

Be part of a community of skilled professionals. Shift Hero connects you with reputable businesses seeking top-notch engineers.
Elevate your career by collaborating with industry leaders.

Comments from electrical and maintenance engineers who use the shift hero app to earn

Join our network

Key Benefits

Work Flexibly

Pick shifts or project work that suit your schedule — even alongside other jobs.

Easy Job Matching

View shift details, apply filters, and accept work that matches your skills and availability.

Fast, Simple Payments

Get paid weekly. Our integrated system takes care of everything, quickly and reliably.

You're Never Alone

Even when on-site solo, you’re backed by an experienced team for advice, help, and technical support.

Detailed Job Info

Access everything you need from site location to requirements, all in one place before the job.

Diverse Work Options

From shift cover to installation projects, choose roles that match your background and goals.

Skill-Based Matching

Only see job opportunities that align with your qualifications and experience.

Mobile Ready

Manage your profile, shifts, and payments on the go with our mobile-optimised platform.

Get your documents to hand!

We recommend gathering all of the required documents before completing your profile.

See our getting started guide for further info.

How to sign-up

Allow between 15 minutes to an hour to complete.
Pause and resume to complete at your own pace.

Create an account

Sign-up

Upload info & documents

Fill out your Business (Ltd company/sole trader) information, Personal information, Training and Qualifcations. See our documents guide.

Finally complete the short multiple choice competency questions.

One-time telephone interview

Once you have completed your profile and online assessments, we will book you a one-time telephone interview. Upon successful completion of your interview, you'll become verified to use the Shift Hero platform, unlocking a wide range of shift offers.

Sign-up now and start earning

Applying online is easy. Make sure you have your required documents to hand before you start.

Frequently asked questions

We will need you to provide your

1. Company Details (Ltd Company, Umbrella Company or Sole Trader). You must be registered as a business to work with Shift Hero.
2. Business Banking details (the account you want your payments to go into)
3. 2 copies of photo ID, preferably your passport and driving licence.
4. Proof of right to work if you are not of UK nationality.
5. Proof of relevant Qualifications (Min Level 3)
6. Before the commencement of any accepted work offers you will need to provide proof of Public & Product Liability Insurance with a minium value of £5 million. Please note that this will only be required at the point of being offered work and you accepting the offer.

Not sure where to get insurance? We find a lot of our engineers use the following providers:

Please see our getting started guide and a guide to uploading your documents for further help.

Your schedule is up to you. With Shift Hero you can earn when you want and manage your own schedule. Whether you choose to work throughout the week or just when you need extra money, Shift Hero is a great way to be your own boss.

Shift Hero pays you weekly every Friday for the shifts you cover.

You receive more money to you per hour directly! Your income is not limited by a fixed salary or wage. Instead it is determined by the success and growth of your business.

While self-employment comes with its own set of challenges, when there are more jobs than engineers, some individuals feel that it provides a sense of job security because they are not reliant on an employer's decisions and organizational changes.

Don't worry, that doesn't have to be the end of your journey with us. Shift Hero provides support and recommendations for advancing your skills to be on-board.

Shift Hero engineers serve a broad range of sectors including food & beverage, pharmaceutical, automotive, utilities, and manufacturing. We match your experience to the right sector opportunities to ensure you're confident and effective on-site.

Absolutely. Shift Hero is designed to offer you flexibility and control. You’re free to accept the jobs that fit your schedule, no exclusivity or long-term tie-ins required.

Once verified, you’ll get access to our easy-to-use Shift Hero platform where you can view upcoming shift opportunities and accept shifts with a single tap.

Yes. Our operations team is available to support engineers during active shifts. If an issue arises, you’ll have a direct contact channel for assistance and escalation.

Yes, Shift Hero is a specialist service under ECS-UK, a leading engineering support provider. ECS-UK delivers expert solutions in automation, maintenance, controls, and project delivery. As a Shift Hero engineer, you may also get opportunities across ECS-UK’s broader engineering network.

Job Description

We are looking for apprentice trained multiskilled engineering contractors to work on shifts as required providing breakdown and maintenance cover on a varied range of plant machinery. The contractor should be able to assist our customers with day-to-day maintenance and breakdown issues in an efficient and professional manner.

Responsibilities

Liaising with our customers and their engineering teams.
Carry out preventative maintenance tasks as scheduled during the shift to required standard.
Conduct continuous machine observation and measurement during the shift, identifying potential failures or deterioration in output, waste, or quality performance from machine standards.
Determine cause of potential failure or performance deterioration and either complete remedial work during shift or submit brief report to subsequent shift engineer outlining issue, cause and recommended solution.
Respond immediately to equipment failures during your shift.
Investigate faults, identify causes and determine most effective solution to the fault.
Report on nature of fault, cause and solution via ECS Customer maintenance system.

Key Skills & Experience

Time Served apprenticeship in Mechanical/Electrical Engineering
Good problem-solving skills
Knowledge of food audits
Understanding of Loto procedures
Worked in a factory environment (preferably food & beverage)
Understanding of safety equipment and related circuits
Good understanding of low voltage systems and signals (e.g. digital & analogue)
Good understanding of instrumentation
Experience with Frequency Drives and Servo’s
Ideally able to Fault find with PLC’s
Good communication skills
Provide excellent Customer Service

Join the Shift HeroNetwork - Work on Your Terms