Export sales and marketing, as well as technical support for sales teams in Sweden and Germany. Since 2011, highly involved in support and marketing of TPMS (tire pressure monitoring systems) sensors. Product development - including improved fitting tools for Rollock wheel nut locking clamps, and Safety Seal tyre repair kits.Online marketing - responsible for website development and advertising, as well as online shops for the Swedish and German markets.

Development and sales of Microsoft Access based software for small businesses.

I worked as a self-employed business consultant. This enabled me to have some flexibility to complete my part-time Masters degree, helped to quickly broaden my experience by working with a range of companies, and gave me the opportunity to apply some of the knowledge that I gained whilst studying for the MBA.

Responsible for the management of 20 staff (£1.5M turnover), planning for the company’s future operational needs, participation in the company’s strategic planning process, and implementation of company-wide improvement projects, (including use of lean methods). The role also encompassed managing the health & safety function, and active in HR role of staff recruitment and development.

During this time, the company surpassed the requirements for Caterpillar class-A supplier status.Responsible for implementing and managing new management systems to the requirements of the automotive quality standard ISO/TS16949:2002 (over and above ISO9001). This required many of the processes to be setup from ground level through to full maturity. New procedures/processes included: 5S housekeeping, Advanced Product Quality Planning / Production part approval process (APQP/PPAP), Disciplined Problem Solving (8D’s) and root-cause analysis (Ishikawa, 5-Why’s), Measurement Systems Analysis (GR&R studies), Statistical Process Control (Capability studies, SPC), Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA).The systems were implemented in only 9 months with the assistance of Smith Consulting, and changed every aspect of the company’s management and operations. I received training in APQP, Problem Solving, MSA and SPC – as well as being trained as a TS16949 internal auditor. This programme left me with considerable added project management skills, and established my senior management credibility.

Production-engineering projects and key, hands-on support for the more technical production machines (including CNC programming). Project leading and facilitating a culture of empowered teamwork and continuous improvement. Real successes shown by on-time deliveries going from 65% to more than 95% of orders, as well as a similar decrease in order lead-times. Provided comprehensive technical support for the sales team and liaised with customers and suppliers, including application trouble-shooting and investigation of field failures.

Through sound technical and product knowledge, provided technical support and prospecting new sales leads in a high-pressure environment. Communication skills taken to new level. By use of good IT skills, self-taught myself on Visual Basic and implemented effective databases (incl. MS Access CRM system) and system components on top of the Sales work, encompassing: Marketing; sourcing and costing of components; Engineering design and application problem solving.