Managing Director of a leading compressed air company, specialising in turnkey systems and energy-saving solutions that benefit the customer. A major supplier of Atlas Copco products in the UK, Pennine Pneumatic Services was awarded the Atlas Copco Premier Distributor of the Year 2013.The company’s activities include the sales of new and second-hand compressors, pipework and spares, and the repair, service and maintenance of compressed air and other equipment, as well as offering free energy-saving audits.As Managing Director, it’s my responsibility to handle planning, forward projections and profitability to ensure that the business continues to be run on a financially sound footing. As a preferred supplier of Atlas Copco products, the company is set annual sales targets and I work hard to ensure we meet and exceed these goals.My role also requires me to attend management and budget meetings and oversee the day-to-day issues related to the running of the company, including:• Financial planning and decision making• Sales accounts – including client meetings and overseeing risk assessments for credit accounts• Service contracts• Staff issues and wages• General troubleshootingA priority is to encourage a positive atmosphere in the office, especially when it comes to establishing customer relationships. By taking a flexible approach, we are able to look for the best prices and options on new and second-hand equipment – we don’t like to say no and it’s rare for us not to be able to help a customer in some way. At PPS, the customer is king and we value their business as it allows us to continue with our success.At PPS, staff are valued highly and I take a hands-on approach with their development and motivation. As Managing Director, I take my responsibility for their job continuity very seriously. I work with a fantastic and loyal team; our staff are the envy of other companies and we have minimal staff changes. Team spirit is all-important.

Helped to set up PPS in 1991 as a company offering the sales, hire and service of compressed air solutions, including new and second-hand compressors, pneumatics and spare parts. My role as Service Director involved managing the service department, from establishing pricing to setting up customer contracts to seeing work through to completion.I also attended sales meetings and was responsible for overseeing the staff working in the service department and for the smooth running of the fleet. This included the purchase and maintenance of company vehicles as well as ensuring that they were kept clean and presentable for client visits, in order to uphold the company’s corporate image.

As Service Manager I was responsible for organising the schedule of work that came into the company, booking in the jobs and ensuring that they were completed to a satisfactory standard. This included overseeing vehicle maintenance and cleaning, as well as managing the work of the service staff.

I started at this company as a Compressor Engineer, responsible for installing compressors and pipe fitting, before being promoted to Service Manager.

Having started in the stores, dealing with the sales of spare parts to customers, I then trained as an Apprentice Engineer, learning how to fit pipes and install compressors.

Working in the large grocery warehouse, I was responsible for handling goods for this major retailer. I also provided holiday and sickness cover for staff in stores across the region.The excellent training I received helped me to understand the importance of good customer service. I also gained experience at handling money and stock control.