MD - Equipment Rental

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This is an excellent opportunity with a market leading, fast growing, specialist distributor of technical products into the construction and infrastructure industries. With a proud history going back almost 30 years they have recently entered an exciting period of investment and growth under new ownership with an experienced senior management team. This role will add to that and take responsibility for several of the key head office enabling functions such as Marketing, IT and HR (and others), supporting the CEO and the rest of the board in delivering their ambitious growth strategy, which includes several acquisitions.

Potential candidates should have a broad range of multi-functional experience in senior management roles, possibly including general management, with a track record of helping SME businesses growth both organically and via integrating acquisitions. 

Experience of working for some kind of business supplying into the construction and/or infrastructure industries is a distinct advantage (such as manufacturer, merchant or specialist distributor), or alternatively you might have worked within other forms of B2B distribution. This is a fast paced, empowering environment, with private equity backing. Again experience in a similar environment is highly beneficial. 

Potential candidates should have the following:

• Broad business knowledge and a high level of commercial acumen
• General management  experience, leading multi-functional teams in a commercial organisation
• Experience of leading  diverse, multi-functional professional teams to drive cultural change
• Have demonstrated capability to work effectively in both strategic and operational roles
• Demonstrate a successful track record of delivering improved organisation performance through productivity and efficiency enhancements
• Have successfully integrated  small scale acquisitions
• Demonstrated track record in successfully managing a range of internal and external stakeholders

As well as the growth journey the business has embarked upon there's also good succession planning opportunities for the successful candidate. 

Whilst the company trades UK wide the head office is based in the South East and prospective candidates should ideally live within a commutable distance, or be prepared to live away during the week.

Competitive basic salary into early 6 figures, significant bonus (both annual and 3 year LTIP) and normal executive benefits

To apply send your CV to neil@wilsonbrook.com or call 07796 542641 for a confidential discussion

This is an excellent opportunity with a market leading manufacturer, the UK division of a global business, with a fantastic track record of growth and innovation.  They have grown year on year for the last 4 years with 2019 set to be yet another record!  There has been investment in facilities, new products, technology and increased head-count.  There is a positive open culture within the business with collaboration, autonomy, and no micro-management.  This is part of the reason for their success.  However, they are not resting on their laurels and are looking for ways to continue to grow and improve the business. 

They now have an opportunity for an experienced Sales Office Manager to join their management team acting as the key link between Customer Service, the External Sales Team, Project Pricing Team and Key Clients (across different routes to market).  The role has direct responsibility for 5 team leaders and indirect responsibility for a further 17 people within these teams.  There is a requirement to improve structure, greater unity and a more proactive, commercially minded, approach.

You will be able to take real ownership for change, being able to shape the commercial team to ensure the business offers unrivalled customer service, while implementing concepts and processes to improve current practices and procedures.  

The successful applicant will be adept at managing both internal and external stakeholders and your key areas will be:

• Working closely with the Divisional Managing Director to create and  implement a strategy which will consolidate and improve internal cohesion 
• Developing relationships with key internal functions - specifically Operations, Finance & IT
• Customer Service – Be proactive and ensure we are asking the  additional questions - with the aim of Customer Excellence
• Project Pricing Team – Ensure response to tender and work is accurate and timely – quoting for the right type of projects
• Encourage and target the teams to provide the data, insights and trends which will assist the external sales team
• External Sales Team – Building supportive and effective partnerships
• Key Clients – Building relationships

Ultimately your goal is to review and improve processes and to ensure the commercial team operates with one voice. Creating interaction between the teams to ensure the customer receives the outstanding service and delivery they are known for.

Key Requirements:

We are looking to hear from candidates who truly see the value in people management, encouraging staff to take ownership of issues and offering solutions to everyday problems/challenges, whilst identifying areas for continuous improvement. 

Your background will have included:

• Managing multiple teams (minimum 10 – 15 individuals) in a proactive and reactive internal B2B Sales/Customer Services environment.
• Previously implemented processes which have had a tangible positive  effect on efficiency or margin.
• Mentored and developed staff to succession plan.
• Business related Degree (ideally)
• Ideally have worked for a manufacturer working with a variety of routes to market.
• Motivating and driving teams to achieve company commercial and financial targets.

Whilst the company supply technical products into the construction industry and similar experience could be an advantage, they are open on industry background, as long as it includes working for a manufacturing supplying a physical product.

You will ideally be located between Bedford and Letchworth Garden City perhaps living in Milton Keynes, Luton, Cambridge, Huntingdon, St Neots, Hitchin, Wellingborough, Welwyn Garden City, Royston, Aylesbury, St Albans, Bishop’s Stortford or Peterborough.

There is a competitive salary, excellent healthcare, pension, annual bonus and other benefits.

To apply send your CV to neil@wilsonbrook.com or call 07796 542641 for a confidential discussion 

This is an excellent opportunity with a market leading, fast growing, specialist distributor of construction products. With a proud history going back almost 30 years they have recently entered an exciting period of investment and growth under new ownership with an experienced senior management team. This role will add to that and take responsibility for the dynamic and fast-paced internal sales and customer service teams (currently circa 25 people in total).

This role requires strong leadership and direction for a large team of sales co-ordinators and processors who handle around 700 orders every day and a busy Trade Counter dealing with large orders and the public.  They pride themselves in offering their customers a professional and reliable next-day delivery and the role of Head of Internal Sales is critical to achieving this.

This is an opportunity to contribute to the development of a sales strategy which will provide for long-term profitability and success for the entire business.

Relationship-building is an essential part of this role, both with internal colleagues and their key customers, so an ability to engage with people at all levels is essential, as is the capacity to keep up to speed with what the market and their closest competitors are doing.

Not only should the team get better at dealing with inbound sales enquiries, but there’s also an opportunity to develop a small sub-team doing proactive outbound sales calls to dormant accounts and developing new business relationships. 

The team need to identify cross-selling and up-selling opportunities where they can capture additional sales with a real commercial appreciation in order to maximise price and margin opportunities depending upon the specific sales enquiry.

Potential candidates should have a successful track record and experience in a similar role.  Construction industry experience is beneficial, or alternatively you will have worked within industrial distribution, however we are open to applicants who have worked in other sectors in similar roles. This is a fast paced, empowering environment, with private equity backing. Again experience in a similar environment is a massive advantage. 

Whilst the company trades UK wide the head office is based in central Kent and prospective candidates should live within a commutable distance. 

There is a competitive salary, an excellent bonus (up to 100%), car or car allowance, pension and other benefits.

To apply send your CV to neil@wilsonbrook.com or call 07796 542641 for a confidential discussion 

 This is an excellent opportunity with a well-established, well-financed, growing business who provide a range of products and services to do with quality of life and home improvement installations for specific groups of residential occupiers.  Whilst a relatively young company, having been established in 1995, they have grown to now employ over 1000 people with a turnover in excess of £130m!  

They have further ambitious growth plans including the diversification of their service offering into allied sectors and associated customer groups, such as social housing and local authority residential maintenance and installation work.

This part of their business (circa £25m and growing!) effectively designs, installs and maintains a variety of equipment (kitchens, bathrooms, stair-lifts, access ramps, railings) into different rooms in a residential setting.  Whilst they predominantly use sub-contract labour to deliver these projects at the moment, they would like to bring this in-house with a directly employed workforce to further improve the quality and efficiency of their service.

With the growth of this division through the winning of new contracts and development of new service offerings, combined with bringing the delivery in-house they need to strengthen the senior management and recruit a General Manager to successfully manage all operational aspects of the business from surveying and design through to complete installations, along with liaison with a variety of stakeholders throughout the process.  At the same time there's an opportunity to improve operational procedures and key performance indicators, whilst exceeding financial targets.

Potential candidates should have:

• A successful track record in a similar role in a similar environment: design and installation of residential projects and the associated contract management.  This could be from private development, local authorities or housing associations or health and social care services?
• Experience of improving operational procedures
• Knowledge of construction design management
• Experience of managing multiple stakeholders - regional managers, site based teams, the end customer, other interested parties

From a behaviours/cultural perspective we're looking for:

• A self-starter and can operate at pace – no procrastination here please!
• Energetic and creative, resilient and tenacious
• Can deliver the right level of information up and down the structure as required
• Leadership of the highest calibre: inspire, lead, motivate, engage with not just the direct reports but the peer group, associated teams and wider business
• Be commercially aware, ensuring the team understands this too

This role will involve travelling nationally, including to the South of the country for meetings at head office when required. It’s a home-based position so candidates based anywhere in England or Wales would be considered as long as not in the extreme North, West Wales, deep South West, East Anglia or Essex, Sussex or Kent.

This is a great opportunity with a business that has a fantastic reputation and is growing.  There's a brilliant culture with their people really caring about what they do - which can have a significant impact on their customers lives.  

There is a competitive salary, bonus and benefits package

To apply send your CV to neil@wilsonbrook.com or call 07796 542641 for a confidential discussion  

This is an excellent opportunity to join a fast growing and successful direct sales/e-commerce retail/distribution business. This business has grown £5m to over £50m in the last 10 years has plans to more than double over the next 5 years through a combination of organic growth and acquisitions. Whilst successful in their own right they are also part of a £900m international group.

However, this is only half of the story because they have a fantastic, award winning culture (open-door, collaborative, with regular communication and employee recognition) combined with excellent feedback from their customers. They have invested significantly in their business in terms of people, IT, facilities, products and marketing. Now they're reaping the rewards.

With such growth comes opportunity. Following a promotion they are now looking to recruit this key role of Head of Category Management with additional responsibility for merchandising - which in this business means how the products are displayed in their catalogue and on the website to make it easier for customers to find the products they want and choose the right products for the job (whilst of course maximising sales and cross-selling opportunities!).

There are opportunities to improve category management within the business - developing a full lifecycle approach in order to maximise sales and margin whilst growing the product range both within existing and into complimentary categories. A team of circa 12 people requires leadership, motivation and development.

Naturally we're looking for candidates to have relevant experience and a successful track record in similar role in a similar type of business - especially with experience in direct/e-commerce sales rather than just traditional bricks and mortar retail or trade distribution. Specific industry/product knowledge is not required, though anything related to consumer durables/home improvement/DIY would be beneficial. Experience of successfully leading a team within this function is also required.

This is a broad role with an important remit both within its function and working with other teams: marketing, operations and sales in particular, and contributing to the development and successful deliver of their strategy as part of the senior management team. Clearly excellent communication skills are a prerequisite alongside the ability to thrive in their open culture.

In the short-term the objective is to deliver world class category management into the business. Beyond this role there are good progression opportunities as the company continues to grow. 

The company are based in the South East so potential candidates need to either live within commutable distance or be able to live away for the majority of the week or relocate.

There is a competitive salary, bonus and benefits package

 To apply send your CV to neil@wilsonbrook.com or call 07796 542641 for a confidential discussion  

This is an excellent opportunity to join a fast growing company that has some fantastic, innovative, products designed and manufactured in the UK, which provide a better user experience than traditional ones, whilst also producing significant savings in terms of water and energy use (up to 75%!).  This mean not only considerable cost savings for the building owner (with payback frequently within just 6 months!), but also great PR by being able to promote their green credentials - saving huge amounts of CO2.  One recently example of an installation in a Leisure Centre is going to save over 120,000 kg of CO2 and running costs of over £50k per annum!

Alongside their existing products there are others in the pipeline which will give them a comprehensive portfolio for different applications across residential, multi-occupancy buildings, commercial and industrial.  They will grow extensively across the UK and internationally over the next 5 years making this an outstanding opportunity for this individual to play a key role in the growth of this exciting organisation.

We're looking for an engaging, self-sufficient and results orientated Specification Business Development Manager to lead the specification business development activity from initial enquiry through to successful delivery.  They're open to exploring various sectors where their products could be successfully installed: hotels, apartment blocks, gyms and leisure centres, halls of residence, hospitals etc.  Experience of specification selling into one or several of these sectors would be an advantage.  Specific product knowledge is not a prerequisite, however experience with bathroom/sanitaryware related products would be an advantage.  Otherwise, experience in similar specification business development role in another category within building products is sufficient.

The role reports to the CEO and the Specification Business Development Manager will work closely with the Marketing Manager in devising and executing against the sales and marketing plan.

Success will be measured in managing the sales pipeline and exceeding revenue and margin targets. The role holder will also be expected to manage a number of key accounts (national gym chains and others) with support, where required, from the CEO.

Potential candidates should have: 

• Experience at generating  specification sales
• Experience of working as a Business Development Manager in the commercial sector and / or selling to facilities directors or developers in other multi-occupancy buildings.
• Proven experience of working in a B2C and / or B2B sales role with technical or installed products and a track record of sales achievement in a competitive market.
• Strong written and verbal presentation skills - essential for the delivery of professional sales      presentations, proposals, and tenders.
• Self-motivated and self-sufficient, comfortable with working under own initiative and proactively seeking new business opportunities.
• Commercially focused and results driven – evidenced in previous roles with sales success
• Technically astute, with the ability to distil complex products into business benefits

This is a unique opportunity - a fast growing company with some amazing products that pretty much sell themselves - for most clients it's a no-brainer to install these products.  With the growth of the business will come exciting career development opportunities.

The role will cover the South and South East of the England in the first instance so ideally candidates would live either along or south of the M4, or in the surrounding home counties, with the head office being in Hampshire.  Naturally this role will not be office based, working from home and involving pretty much full time travel.  We're also interested in another candidate to manage the North/North West region, so applications would also be welcomed from candidates with a similar background in that part of the UK.

There is a competitive salary, an uncapped bonus (circa £20k for on target performance), car or car allowance, pension and other benefits.

 To apply send your CV to neil@wilsonbrook.com or call 07796 542641 for a confidential discussion 

 This is an excellent opportunity to join a market leading brand within the building products industry. They have a proud history and an impressive track record of growth over a considerable period of time. The UK business is one the leaders within the group, helping to form strategy for their European parent company (circa £1bn turnover) and its subsidiaries and even legislation for the sectors in which they operate. They have a broad range of products, including some that are bespoke, across a number of applications (for a variety of commercial, industrial and residential projects), some of which are manufactured here in the UK, others by sister companies and some product bought in. 

Despite their success they are not resting on their laurels. They see plenty of opportunity for growth and improvement. Hence this new role, to partly support the Marketing Director from a strategic perspective whilst also taking responsibility for the marketing team across who operate across all aspects of B2B marketing. With continued investment in facilities, people and products, they have the foundations in place, along with a supportive senior team - of which there is the opportunity to become part for this role and to have a broader remit in the future.

Suitable candidates should have a successful track record in a similar role in a similar environment, hence a good understanding of building products supply, with further success in leading and developing marketing strategy and teams and an understanding of the complexities of specification sales with product then sold through distribution and marketing to different decision makers throughout this process.

You should live within commutable distance of their office which is not far from Milton Keynes. There will be some travel in the role: to exhibitions and the group head office in Europe. 

There is a competitive salary, good bonus, car or car allowance and comprehensive package of benefits

To apply send your CV to neil@wilsonbrook.com or call 07796 542641 for a confidential discussion  

This is an excellent opportunity with a market leading £500m business who supply specialist equipment and associated services to a number of industries including construction and infrastructure.  They have grown successfully over recent years, both organically and via acquisitions.  In 2011 they delivered just £3m of profit - last year over it was over £60m!   

They operate from over 180 locations UK wide with over 3500 employees.  They were the first company in their sector to voluntarily pay the real living wage.  They have a powerful vision - to own the future of their sector, setting the standards, having the best safety, innovation and solutions in the industry.  Their values actually mean something to the business, with employees living and breathing them on a daily basis - they're not just a set of words on a website or a wall.

They have identified an opportunity to improve their approach to procurement by introducing category management and conducting a full end to end review of their procurement strategy: how they buy, who they buy from, the size and variety of their product and service portfolio, developing stronger relationships with their suppliers: all the while keeping in mind what their customers, across various different sectors, really want.

Hence they are creating a new procurement team to develop and deliver this strategy and need a Head of Procurement to lead and implement this.

Potential candidates should have:

• At least 10 years in category management in an industrial products or services business, with some understanding of the construction and infrastructure sectors
• A successful track record in implementing/improving a modern progressive procurement/category      management strategy in a business of a comparable size and complexity
• Experience of purchasing machinery/equipment/plant where long term asset value along with      efficiency, reliability and serviceability are important: this is quite different to purchasing goods for resale where it’s simply based on price,  quality and volume and more of a short-term decision-making process
• Some experience of leading and development procurement team members
• Based within reasonable commuting distance of Greater Manchester where their head office is based, although this role is not necessarily based 5 days per week in the office – some of the time  will be spent visiting suppliers (if they’re not visiting you) and also travelling around the country building relationships with people in the business and various subsidiaries
• Degree & CIPS qualified

This is a great opportunity with a well-established, successful company, with the chance to significantly improve how they go about procurement.  Good career development opportunities are also available.

There are competitive salaries,  pension and other benefits.

To apply send your CV to neil@wilsonbrook.com or call 07796 542641 for a confidential discussion 

 This is an excellent opportunity to join a well-established and successful business that manufacture and supply a range of specialist large "equipment" on both a permanent and temporary hire basis to a number of industry sectors including construction, education, healthcare and commercial.

The business has benefited from numerous investments over recent years and grown significantly. There is a committed and long serving senior team. They are in a strong financial position, both as an autonomous UK business and also as part of global group. They have traded successfully through the last 9 months, supplying their products and service to the NHS for critical projects. They have further significant growth aspirations and are well placed to achieve them.

As a result of a promotion they are now looking to recruit a new MD to take the hire division forward. Potential candidates should have:

• Experience in a similar GM/MD P&L responsible role in a similar sized business (circa £50m)/business unit providing complex services into multiple industries, including construction
• A successful track record of growing a business/business unit and career progression
• Experience in leadership roles in other plant/machinery/equipment hire businesses is beneficial but not essential
• Naturally a high level of intellect with a strong commercial and financial appreciation, whilst also understanding the operational aspects too
• Must fit in with values and culture: team orientated, inspiring, challenging in a professional way
• High EQ, engaging and influencing, strong enough to make decisions in a timely fashion
• Entrepreneurial but also appreciative of a corporate structure
• Living within a reasonable daily commuting distance of their Yorkshire head office (or be prepared to relocate within 12 months). Naturally there will also be some travel within the role.
• A self-starter and can operate at pace – no procrastination here please!
• Energetic and creative, resilient and tenacious
• Can deliver the right level of information up and down the structure as required
• Leadership of the highest calibre: inspire, lead, motivate, engage with people throughout the business
• Be commercially and financially aware, ensuring the team understands this too

This an excellent opportunity to part of the next chapter at a very exciting time.

For a confidential discussion contact Wilson Brook MD Neil Holloway on 07796 542641 or email CV to neil@wilsonbrook.com

 This is an excellent opportunity to join a well-established builders merchant branch and help propel them through the next stage of their growth.  

Trading from a large site in an affluent area they have a great reputation for customer service, a modern fleet of vehicles and a committed and experienced team.

With the right leader this branch could double in size, adding new product categories and services.  There will be freedom to trade in an autonomous environment with no bureaucracy and the support of an experienced senior leadership (if required!).

Potential candidates should have:

• A successful track record of profitably running and growing an B2B trade distribution business as Branch/General Manager. Potentially a strong assistant Branch Manager looking for that next step.  This could be from within the builders merchant industry or something comparable with transferable skills
• Can successfully operate in such an environment without the support structures of a larger corporate and can cope with the pressure of needing to achieve results
• A proactive, inquisitive, common sense approach
• Strong, positive communication skills.  Able to have difficult conversations when required
• Willingness to roll sleeves up and always looking for opportunities to improve the business
• To be customer facing and enjoy doing this.  Knowledge of the local customer base is an advantage, but not a prerequisite
• Based within a commutable distance of South Hampshire
• Fit in with and positively develop the culture within the organisation, ensuring respect for all within the business
• A self-starter and can operate at pace, making decisions in a confident manner – no procrastination here please!
• Energetic and creative, resilient and tenacious.  Willing to embrace the challenge
• Can deliver the right level of information up and down the structure as required
• Leadership of the highest calibre: inspire, lead, motivate, engage with people throughout the business
• Commercially and financially aware

Objectives:

• Increase turnover in a profitable manner
• Improve customer service, especially with delivered business.  Give customers a reason to use the business
• Improve engagement throughout the team and create a positive, winning culture
• Develop potential successors, with a view to future career progression
• Identify opportunities for investment
• Identify opportunities for growth in associated product/service areas: more timber, lightside and plumbing & heating
• Fully utilise the facilities/capabilities of the branch: buildings, vehicles and small service mill
• Naturally ensure the branch is trading legally with health and safety paramount at all times

The future is bright for this business.  Come and be a part of it. 

 To apply send your CV to matt@wilsonbrook.com or call 07517 470025 for a confidential discussion