I oversee a workshop of 11 staff. Ensuring that all aspects of the repair process are being carried out properly and in good time. Monitoring staff performance, carrying out 121’s and staff meetings on a regular basis. Responsible for hitting monthly targets in terms of efficiency and turnover. Handling work flow and organising each member of staffs daily tasks. Inspecting repairs before handover and signing off each job. I still carry out estimates when required and liaise with customers whenever required. Dealing with suppliers and ensuring that the company is receiving the service it should be. Will deal with any customer complaints on behalf of the company and ensure that they are dealt with swiftly and always leave the customer happy.

As Chief VDA i'm at the hub of influencing weather the company will make or break. My role sees me in full control of what we charge. My goals are to drive labour rates up, increase labour and paint sales, reduce discounts, sell specialist procedures at a premium and still keep the paying customer happy. Chaplane is a medium sized bodyshop and hold approvals for Volkswagen, Audi, Skoda, SEAT, Volvo, Hyundai, Honda, Mitsubishi, Fiat, Alfa Romeo and Jeep. I am responsible for assessing the extent of damage to the structural, body, mechanical, electrical and interior components of every vehicle. Estimating parts and labour costs to repair the damage sustained in the accident. Using Audatex to prepare repair costs to put forward to the paying party, negotiating with them weather it be an insurance company, manufacturer or private customer to come to a mutual and reasonable agreement.I have received extensive training particularly tied to the Volkswagen Audi Group to aid me with keeping up to date with developments in engine and electrical technologies and correct repair procedures. I have to have strong communication skills and good time management. I still liaise with customers and ensure that they are kept satisfied and up to date at all stages of the repair process, this is monitored heavily by Volkswagen and as a result means that our customer satisfaction must be paramount.

Due to my previous employers health, the company was sold and became Braintree Motor Works Ltd. I continued as per my previous role and helped to make the transition as smooth as possible for the new owners. My relationship with them blossomed and i felt as though i was really given the chance to express myself, they took my input very seriously and i was made to feel as though i was part of this new venture. I really enjoyed the challenge of taking a business from nothing and helping to gain new custom as well as retain pre-existing custom from before the handover. After a few months I took the role as chief VDA and started concentrate my efforts mainly on this position as the two new owners settled and took on the overall running of the business, that being said they still valued my input on decisions to progress the business as a whole. I still liaised with customers, continued to monitor the workshop, including managing the workflow and the distribution of work to the workshop, ordering and seeing in parts orders, as well as quality control and the final hand over.

I oversaw the running of the business as a whole alongside the owner. In 2010 the owner suffered a hart attack and it was left to me to oversee single handed for a good 6 months. My day to day tasks would see me looking after customer relationships as well as suppliers. Monitoring all income, expenditure and looking at ways we could save the company money. Marketing the business and gaining new customers. Estimating jobs and liaising with insurance companies in order to gain authority for repairs, maximizing our profits but yet coming to a reasonable cost for the insurance company. Loading the workshop and setting realist time goals to meet customers expectations. Dealing with any issues that my have arisen from either the workshop or customer, problem management. Quality control, ensuring that every job that left the premises was to the standard that we expected. Although i was left to deal with many important tasks at such a young age, in a very busy and pressured environment i felt that this really helped to form the person i am today. Most of business in general is problem solving and managing a situation. I really enjoy this, every situation good or bad, big or small has a conclusion and it can be very rewarding when you reach it.

Part time alongside studdying, working on the meat and fish counters. I learnt many job specific skills as well as valuable life/work skills such as co-operation, customer relations, working as part of a team, working under pressure (especially in the festive season) and meeting sales targets. A very enjoyable part of my life that i will always value.

Part time work after school and at weekends up until my exams, cutting carbon fiber kits for steering wheels, air boxes, diffusers, seats etc. ready for lamination. General helping and tidying were required and getting used to being in the working environment and working as a team to reach time related goals. A good bit of working experience, especially getting to work for a company that produced products for F1 Teams and Race cars given i am a huge fan of motorsport.