Since INKTECH was established in 1989, it has become one of the most respected independent manufacturers of specialist inks and coatings. We are a market leader with 3 decades of experience delivering innovative ink and coating solutions to a complex, demanding industry. Located in Rochdale, Lancashire we have our own purpose built manufacturing facilities and ability to export globally.

BoxWay Packaging Group is an independent corrugated cardboard packaging business, made up of two well established manufacturing plants across the U.K. BoxWay is focused on delivering bespoke cardboard packaging alongside innovative customer centric solutions.

Established in 1882, Harrison Packaging are the UK’s oldest independent carton manufacturer. Operating from modern, purpose-built facilities, Harrison works with some of the UK’s leading brands to offer innovative, sustainable, printed solid board packaging. We provide a range of bespoke solutions across a diverse range of market sectors including food, drink, confectionery, beauty and healthcare.We excellent packaging print and finishing capabilities onsite as we’ve made regular investments to ensure our capital equipment, as well as our facilities remain fit for purpose enabling the business to remain at the cutting edge of the packaging marketplace. We have further investments planned, which will continue this process of driving our competitive advantage. We work with some fantastic brands producing a superb and varied range of packaging products.

Responsible for print, packaging and supply chain new business sales, contracted sales, client services, commercial and marketing departments across the 4 UK sites between 2015-2020. Successfully drove the UK business forward with substantial new business sales over last 5 years. Motivated and guided my team to add valuable new business sales across the 3 UK sites in 2019 & 2020.Successfully negotiated a long term 3-year contract with one of the UK's largest premium multi brand automotive manufacturers in 2019.Won a long term 5 year contract with a prestigious automotive manufacturer in December 2019.Improved a long standing automotive account profitability over a 3 year contract with price increases in supply chain and fulfilment.Negotiated a large contract for a European plant with global online print operator in December 2018.Part of senior management team who led the acquisition of specialist niche packaging business mid 2017.Strategically reorganised the IT, Sales and Packaging departments by upgrading personnel and recruiting superior candidates with the right business fit, experience and attitude.Reduced the business spend substantially by reducing the sales and client services departments head count over a 3-year period.Implemented new IT software to handle web to print system handling digital sales.Initiated paper tenders and reduced costs with new supply deals.Negotiated and secured 3-year contract with international and premium automotive manufacturer for a group plant.Negotiated and secured 2-year contract with large publishing group.

Pioneered the only worldwide company to successfully commercialise Accoya and Tricoya, Acetylated wood and panels products where large multinational blue-chip companies such as BP, Eastman, Daiken and Yamaha failed.Grew sales enabling Joint Ventures and License Agreements with Ineos, BP, Solvay (Rhodia) Coillte and Finsa. Grew sales by 45%, 78% and 39% in 2013-15 with effective sales and marketing campaigns across 50countries worldwide.Increased turnover from €12m to €40m over 3-year period and making the plant €3m EBITDA positive.Effectively sold-out the Dutch plant's manufacturing capacity.Improved the selling price by 15%, with 3 price increases in 18-month period.Managed sales & marketing team of 17 across 5 global locations.Responsible for annual Sales and Marketing budget of €3.3m generating valuable leads to the business.Improved ROI by generating 33,000 leads and contacts from marketing spend in 2014.Successfully managed budgets, forecasts, targets, prices and margins worldwide.Notable credible industry awards: TTJ Marketing Development Award in 2011, International WoodProduct Award in 2011, Sustain Innovative Technology of the year award 2012, Most Innovative WoodWindow Component award 2012, Supreme Innovation Award in 2012, Architect Innovative R&D Award2011 and Project of the Year Award in 2012 by the world’s most popular architects www.arcdaily.com.

Responsible for a marketing executive based in Carlisle.Board Director of Wood for Good, which is the timber industry's £1million marketing campaign. Board Director of The Timber Decking and Cladding Association. Responsible for the writing of the strategic marketing plan. Developed communication strategy for £30m takeover of competitor, Howie Forest Products. Implementation of tactics to convert existing customers into more profitable added value products in-line with company infrastructure investments achieving a greater return per customer. Responsible for the marketing, branding, advertising and PR communications for the BSW Timber group on a strategic and day to day basis. Completely overhauled the group marketing programmes with more tangible results. Improved the product portfolio both deeper and wider by developing and marketing new products that are more performance based and added value, thus increasing the group’s bottom line. Launched new products and new business ventures to new markets with comprehensive research and marketing support packages and effective trade show events and exhibitions. Developed comprehensive market research campaigns. Developed the trials and testing of new products and developed routes to market for new products.

Reg Vardy was the UK’s second largest car retailer. Reg Vardy employed over 5,500 people nationwide with an annual turnover of £2.4 Billion, with an annual profit of £47 Million in the financial year 2003/4, selling over 161,000 new and used cars per annum from a total of 89 car showrooms. My main roles were to manage the marketing function with responsibility of a marketing budget of £5 Million annually for 29 car showrooms and to control a team of seven people who fulfil day-to-day marketing activities. KEY ROLES I managed a team of seven people including two marketing executives and two marketing assistants and a team of three graphic and press designers.I was responsible for all advertising, promotional activity and direct marketing solutions for dealerships, within the Midlands & Southern regions & Specialist Car Divisions.I provided proactive marketing service to 29 outlets with a marketing spend of over £5 million.I provided the Marketing Director with strategic direction, key practical advice, generating new ideas to improve the marketing function for new and used car and new product launches. MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTSI helped reduce the group’s large advertising spend to ensure more effective communications and better return on capital employed with new Direct Marketing Initiatives. I developed group and divisional wide marketing campaigns ranging from TV advertising to showroom promotions and incentives to ensure consistency and improved effectiveness. I developed and integrated two new brand identities from acquisitions, namely Trust Volkswagen and Rossleigh land Rover.I developed, designed and produced three TV commercials within deadline and budget, which dramatically increased footfall and sales during the transmission period. Two were used car commercials and one to promote the showroom launch for Mercedes-Benz in Scotland.

Reporting directly to Group Marketing Director with dotted line to Buying Director. Based in Co Durham. I held the position of Senior Marketing Manager for the Sport and Fashion Division of Blacks Leisure Group whose main retail outlets were First Sport, AV Menswear and Pure Woman. The Sport and Fashion Division had over 220 retail stores throughout the UK and spent over £4M on marketing. The Blacks Leisure Group had an annual turnover of £400M. I joined BLG during my industrial placement year from University when the group was small but had plans to grow. Throughout my marketing career at BLG the group grew exponentially from only 60 stores to over 550 stores in 2002. The group was eventually sold to JD Sports for over £60M.KEY ROLESManaged a marketing team of five, through effective delegation, organisation and co-ordination of the Advertising, Promotions and PR Function. Effectively controlled all incumbent advertising agencies through direct briefings and communications for all marketing communications including TV, Cinema, Lifestyle Press, Direct Mail and Outdoor.Developed all sales promotion activity with key brands and other third party organizations for in-store and window activity via extensive research, planning and implementation.Produced all seasonal and product specific brochures and promotional materials.Effectively marketed window activity to sports, male and female fashion brands and outdoor brands throughout the promotional year, to obtain marketing contributions to fund other marketing initiatives.