I was invited to add my experience and take an equity stake in a start up profiling business being set up by Dents Steel Services Limited. The company serviced a varied customer base and was involved in the supply of Computer Numeric Control cut steel profiles. During challenging times within the steel industry turnover went from zero to £1.3m per annum with a net operating profit of circa £800k. Key Responsibilities and Achievements• Full involvement in the starting up of the entire business and its systems and procedures• Negotiating specification and the purchase of new machinery• Creation of IT systems, policies and procedure for stock, production planning and other key areas of the business• Implementation of company procedures to achieve CE Accreditation Execution Class 4• Integral to the successful tender and eventual contract for the supply of free issue cutting and packaging of a £2.3m contract to supply Computer Numeric Control cut parts for the Queen Elizabeth class Aircraft Carriers• Key contracts included £750k to supply connection and deck plates for Blackfiars Bridge London over a 2 year period and £500k to supply various components for Olympic Stadia for London 2012 over a 3 year period• Complete responsibility of the company’s overall performance• Supplier and customer contract negotiations• Responsibility for the company’s Health and Safety Policy• Staff contract negotiations and pay structure• Approval of monthly management and annual audited accounts• Monitoring market conditions and trends to align company plan• Implementing and managing a Master Production Schedule• Communicating production priorities to all relevant departments• Production of monthly reports for the parent holding company and attend monthly Board meetings• Control of stock levels and identification of slow or redundant stock material• Equity disposal achieving 600% return on investment

After being headhunted for the position of Sales Executive with Austin Trumanns Profiling I arrived at a low period within the steel industry. The profiling division had previously been offered for sale at £1 to a competitor and the challenge of turning round the fortunes of this company were tasked to myself and the general manager. In the third month of my employment the company achieved a net operating profit for the first time in three years and continued to deliver a net profit every month thereafter. After two successful years the task fell to the General Manager and I to find larger operating premises to accommodate the growing business and the decision was made to move to larger premises in Wakefield. Key Responsibilities and Achievements• Personally responsible for circa £2m sales annually• Stock purchasing and continual analysis to maintain efficiencies• Monitoring market conditions and trends• Regular site and customer visits to discuss performance and quality• Negotiating supplier and customer contracts• Development of new business• Advising customers on product specification and technical requirements• Attending monthly sales meetings• Monthly analysis and reporting of sales performance to senior management• Production of monthly forecast reports• Producing weekly production requirement schedules• Monthly stock reconciliation• Resolving customer complaints and handling returns

P & D Northern is a family owned Steel Plate stockholder based in the north west of England specialising in secondary grade steel plate. This was my first role within the steel industry and therefore starting with very little knowledge it quickly became apparent that in order to progress within this market product knowledge was pivotal if I was going to succeed.Key Responsibilities and Achievements• Maintaining customer relationships through regular visits• Promotion to Transport Manager whilst still maintaining sales for key accounts• Extensive understanding of material specifications• Management of transport costs• Material delivery scheduling• Involvement with and knowledge of testing procedures from the in house testing laboratory• Collation and cross referencing of material certification

Initially starting on a summer contract after leaving school, my duties included cleaning and replacing bathroom suites within the showroom and assisting in the preparation of customer orders. The role also involved working weekends in the company’s showroom as a sales assistant face to face with the general public.