PEOPLE

Restructured Sales Team Provides Support For

Leads 2 Trade Members

Leads 2 Trade, provider of double-qualified sales leads to installers operating in the home improvement sector, has made significant changes to its sales team to improve its service for customers.

Oliver Jennings, who has been at the Stockport-based company since 2014, has been appointed to the role of sales and partnerships manager.

Staff changes in the sales team has seen a focus on restructuring the sales department and it is now a four-strong team, with two full-time area sales managers supported by two account managers. It will be their job to recruit new members and manage and retain them thereafter. Oliver explained: “With staff changes in the last 12-18 months, it was causing confusion for members. This move provides more stability and structure for our members. Instead of having multiple managers, members will have direct contact with their own manager and that manager will have a support team behind them.”

Having started in the call centre at Leads 2 Trade eight years ago, Oliver then moved into a support role within the sales team and then an account management role for four years before moving into a hybrid marketing and data analyst role and working on Leads 2 Trade’s affiliates network. “We are looking to bring in a head of marketing and the opportunity arose to move back into sales in a management role and I’ve retained the affiliates side of things too. Thanks to my previous role in sales, I’ve been able to hit the ground running,” said Oliver.

Andy Royle, Leads 2 Trade’s co-founder and director said: “We needed to regroup and reshape the sales department and we needed a figurehead for doing that. Oliver has the knowledge and experience to rebuild the sales team and manage it. We can also still take advantage of his analytical skills in his new role too.”

As one of the longest serving team members, Oliver has seen the company change and go from strength to strength during the last eight years, including the addition of more sales lead types which has also resulted in the growth of the call centre.

Farewell To Phil

Respected Ultraframe technical training manager, Phil Wharf, has retired after a 26-year career at the conservatory and extension specialist. After joining Ultraframe in February 1996, as a member of the technical support Team, Phil has worked in a variety of technical and training-based roles and has assisted many thousands of customers in learning about the intricacies of the company’s conservatory and extension systems.

Commenting about his career at Ultraframe and plans for retirement, Phil said: “I have seen many changes in the industry and Ultraframe during my time here which I have been reflecting on recently as my retirement approaches. Some of the most memorable include our founder John Lancaster handing over the reins, exciting times when the company floated on the London Stock Exchange in 1998, and Brian Kennedy’s Latium Group acquiring Ultraframe in July 2006. Ultraframe has dominated a very competitive industry for almost 40 years, and I am extremely proud to have been a part of this for the last 26 years and have seen continuous product development throughout that time. I am very much looking forward to my retirement now, especially not ‘living by the clock’ and ironing shirts on a Sunday!”

It is estimated that during his time at the helm of Ultraframe’s training department, that Phil has trained some 10,000 sales people, surveyors and installers – an incredible figure!

Commenting about Phil’s retirement and his huge contribution to Ultraframe over the years, Ultraframe marketing director, Alex Hewitt, said: “On behalf of Ultraframe, I would like to thank Phil for his hard work and dedication over the years. The knowledge that Phil has and has shared is incredible and he will be very much missed. We would like to wish him a very happy and restful retirement.”

On his last day, Phil was presented with a selection of gifts from his colleagues and said the following: “Well folks, here it is, my very last day here at Ultraframe! Aged exactly 66.33 years old (you know how I like precise numbers). I wish all my colleagues old and new, past and present, my sincere thanks and best wishes. Keep working hard everyone. Always remember the devil’s in the detail and whatever your job role is WE ALL work in sales. Long live ‘the Frame’!”

Gowercroft Joinery Appoints New Finance Director

In his new role Harry will be taking ownership of the company’s financial structures, as he works across the business streamlining systems, driving efficiencies and profitability, and building strong supplier relationships in support of the company’s senior management team.

Harry said: “I am thrilled to be joining such a dynamic and rapidly expanding business. Gowercroft has had such an amazing track record so far, and I am very much looking forward to being part of its future successes.”

Timber window and door manufacturer Gowercroft Joinery has appointed a new Finance Director to help spearhead the next stage of the company’s expansion.

Harry Dixon brings almost a decade of commercial accountancy and building industry experience, having started out as a credit control apprentice at one of the country’s major chains of builders’ merchants and then rapidly progressed his career with major IT and construction companies, all of which have gone through accelerated growth journeys. Andrew Madge, managing director of Gowercroft said: “We’re delighted to have Harry on board. His broad base of experience and positive attitude is a perfect fit for our company culture as we push ahead, launching new products and expanding into different markets. www.gowercroft.co.uk

Steve Lewis Returns To

Spearhead Cotswold Technical Sales

A popular returning employee is set to drive excellence and innovation as Cotswold’s Technical Manager.

Steve Lewis previously served in the role for 5 years, during which time he played an integral role in new product development, tailoring existing products for new markets, and supporting the company’s sales and technical teams in India.

Now, he’ll once again be taking the lead in providing technical support to Cotswold customers, delivering internal and external product training, and designing the bespoke solutions that will help Cotswold clients grow.

“Steve doesn’t just have an incredible grasp of the technical side of our products – he also excels at the front-end,” comments managing director Tim Ferkin.

“Tailoring the perfect product starts with getting to know the customer and their business, and that’s where Steve’s in his element.

“I’m delighted he’s returned to Cotswold as we embark on an exciting new phase in our history.” https://bit.ly/3tM0wG7

AT Precision’s New

Hire To Drive Excellent Customer Service

Aluminium bi-fold hardware supplier AT Precision has strengthened its commitment to delivering outstanding customer service with the appointment of a new internal sales co-ordinator.

Joanne Healy joins the Durham-based company with over 20 years of customer experience, having previously worked as an administrator at supermarket giants Sainsbury’s and Morrison’s, as well as a service co-ordinator at HBCL Coldstores, a supplier of food safe panelling systems to the food manufacturing industry.

“Throughout my career, I’ve prided myself on delivering outstanding customer service, and over the years have developed a strength for building excellent customer rapport,” says Joanne.

“As an internal sales co-ordinator at AT Precision, I’m able to draw on my previous experience to deal with new customers and build new databases, while keeping in regular contact with existing customers.

“As with many in the industry, product delivery has been a challenge in the last few months thanks to supply chain issues, but we’ve managed to avoid this by keeping a rolling stock, ensuring next-day delivery at all times. We never let our customers down, and that’s something I’m determined to continue.”

Sales director Michael Hewitt comments: “While we’re very proud of our unique product offering, customer service is really what makes AT Precision stand out from the competition, proven earlier this year when we achieved ISO 9001 certification, demonstrating our ability to deliver high-quality services to customers on a consistent basis.

“Joanne is the ideal person for this role, and has seamlessly taken on keeping in regular contact with customers and making sure everything is running smoothly at all times.

“She’s a real asset to our growing team, and I very much look forward to seeing how she helps the company thrive.”