TBSS Ltd was set up to provide a wide range of services to small businesses (normally less than 9 employees). Due to the success of the Defacto project the development of the ancillary services has been slower to grow, but moves are now afoot to correct this as my Partner, Son and Daughter become more active in the business this year. The first project is an enhanced website from Weborchard in Hull (look them up if you want a reliable website provider), so watch this space for updates.

In 2006 just as I was setting up TBSS, Alec Willis who i had known for a number of years asked me to come and review his Accounting Systems as the business had grown and he felt an overhaul would be beneficial. In fairness his systems were good and well managed by Sarah Ashton, but we started talking about what was lacking for Account Managers in the Sage Channel and it became obvious Alec had a lot of it in his portfolio but did not have the time to promote it. A deal was reached for TBSS to… Show more In 2006 just as I was setting up TBSS, Alec Willis who i had known for a number of years asked me to come and review his Accounting Systems as the business had grown and he felt an overhaul would be beneficial. In fairness his systems were good and well managed by Sarah Ashton, but we started talking about what was lacking for Account Managers in the Sage Channel and it became obvious Alec had a lot of it in his portfolio but did not have the time to promote it. A deal was reached for TBSS to become his Business Development Sub Contractor and since then we have transformed Defacto Solutions from a reliance on direct Sage programming work to a Company that has grown worldwide because of the strengths of it own portfolio mainly the now dominant DefCapture. Show less

MPS was my first experience of working within the reseller environment as an Account Manager, my role was to develop the business revenues within the existing customer base initially as part of a team, but then later on as the team leader. During this time I consistently exceeded both individual and team targets.I always saw the role of Account Manager as the trusted go between with Customers, representing the Company to Customers and Customers within the Company. In my opinion sales to… Show more MPS was my first experience of working within the reseller environment as an Account Manager, my role was to develop the business revenues within the existing customer base initially as part of a team, but then later on as the team leader. During this time I consistently exceeded both individual and team targets.I always saw the role of Account Manager as the trusted go between with Customers, representing the Company to Customers and Customers within the Company. In my opinion sales to existing customers are achieved as a by product of trust and understanding of their business.In 2003 MPS were taken over by Pinnacle Computing and I continued to work for Pinnacle as an Account Manager until 2005 when I was made redundant. In honesty I always knew this would be the outcome as I feel I was a square peg in a round hole but it gave me the opportunity to follow my life long ambition of setting up my own company. Show less

Another diversification this time from Print Management Solutions to Fresh Produce Management Solutions, market leader to market leader.My role within Weir Systems was simple retain the customer base. Weir had just acquired the company following a parting of the ways of the owners of the acquired company and the hostile owner was agressively raiding the existing customer base as he attempted to start a competitive business.I set up a small team to do this and succeeded in the task… Show more Another diversification this time from Print Management Solutions to Fresh Produce Management Solutions, market leader to market leader.My role within Weir Systems was simple retain the customer base. Weir had just acquired the company following a parting of the ways of the owners of the acquired company and the hostile owner was agressively raiding the existing customer base as he attempted to start a competitive business.I set up a small team to do this and succeeded in the task again continuously exceeding targets and gaining customer trust. In 1999 I became disillusioned with the approach to the millennium bug and felt that one good year of sales would be followed by a breakdown of the trust I had with my customers and so I left. Show less

Slinn Computer Group was my first role in Solution Sales. Having worked on the replacement solution selection at Lancaster Garage Group, I wanted to fulfill the old adage of "poacher turned gamekeeper" and have complete change. Car Dealerships to Print Management Solutions was certainly that.At Slinn I discovered I had a natural affinity and ability to perform a Soultion Sales role and have not looked back. Initially assisting the UK sales team with demonstrations once having learned the… Show more Slinn Computer Group was my first role in Solution Sales. Having worked on the replacement solution selection at Lancaster Garage Group, I wanted to fulfill the old adage of "poacher turned gamekeeper" and have complete change. Car Dealerships to Print Management Solutions was certainly that.At Slinn I discovered I had a natural affinity and ability to perform a Soultion Sales role and have not looked back. Initially assisting the UK sales team with demonstrations once having learned the software (sometimes during the night before the demo!) I progressed swiftly to assisting the Development Director to open an overseas distribution network which I then subsequently developed and managed. Areas covered were Belgium, Holland, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and South Africa.I finally left Radius Solutions when I became re-united with my first Boss at Slinn Computer Group Bob Elton at Wier Systems in Nottingham. Show less

I worked at the Lancaster Group during an exciting growth period, but one where it was still not too big to be close to all the main Board Directors including Mr Ronnie Lancaster and son Nick. I reported to Patrick Grinnell (from whom I learned a great deal about business) and in between 2 spells under Patrick, Mike Nower (under whom I learned a great deal about Accounting, Budgets and a driven work ethic). Initially I managed a centralised computer function serving up to 7 dealerships, but… Show more I worked at the Lancaster Group during an exciting growth period, but one where it was still not too big to be close to all the main Board Directors including Mr Ronnie Lancaster and son Nick. I reported to Patrick Grinnell (from whom I learned a great deal about business) and in between 2 spells under Patrick, Mike Nower (under whom I learned a great deal about Accounting, Budgets and a driven work ethic). Initially I managed a centralised computer function serving up to 7 dealerships, but then progressed to become part of an IT change team that evaluated, tested and ultimately selected and implemented the Kerridge Computer Dealerman Solution throughout the Group as decentralisation became necessary through growth. Show less

At M G Electric, I learned a lot in a very short space of time, thanks entirely to my boss Graham Parker. Graham was effectively Operations Director from when I began although he was promoted to the role later.Graham taught me that to succeed you bring someone through with you and so he taught me all aspects of business, from an initial order received through production to despatch, invoicing and getting paid. I also spent some time working on the shop floor and by the time I left I… Show more At M G Electric, I learned a lot in a very short space of time, thanks entirely to my boss Graham Parker. Graham was effectively Operations Director from when I began although he was promoted to the role later.Graham taught me that to succeed you bring someone through with you and so he taught me all aspects of business, from an initial order received through production to despatch, invoicing and getting paid. I also spent some time working on the shop floor and by the time I left I was able to process Payroll, Accounts Payable and Receivable and produce Accounts Monthly to Trial Balance, Profit and Loss, and Balance Sheet. In parallel with this we introduced all the accounts and production systems onto an IBM System 34 Maapics system. As I have progressed through my career I have grown to appreciate just the what a great foundation Graham had encouraged me to build as well as gaining an HNC Business Studies in the evening. Show less