MERCHANT FOCUS: RISING STARS
LUKE BROMLEY Job title: Branch Manager - Bodmin, Keyline Civils Specialist
What’s your role?
I am the Branch Manager at the Keyline Civils Specialist Bodmin branch in Cornwall, which opened in December 2019.
How did you get into this industry? I was at a bit of a crossroads with what I wanted to do. I knew that sixth form college wasn’t the right fit for me and I felt that applying my skills to a trade environment would be more suited. As such, I joined the Travis Perkins group in 2015 as a Management Apprentice within PTS having completed a plumbing apprenticeship. I was then a Branch Supervisor at Travis Perkins Berkhamstead and the Assistant Branch Manager (ABM) in the Keyline Civils Specialist Bedford branch. Since Joining TP PLC I have worked hard to learn and progress and have been encouraged throughout with a supportive development and promotions programme.
What might a typical day for you at work be? As Branch Manager it is my responsibility to make sure we can provide the best service possible to our customers. So, on any given day I will be working with my team to make sure they can do just that. We also look at our sales and performance every day to see how we can improve and continue to grow our business.
What were you doing at work last week? I worked with my Transport Coordinator on the implementation of a new delivery management system that is set to streamline and improve our delivery process. This also included ensuring all staff have carried out the relevant training and understand what was required for launch. I also began preparing for the year ahead, looking at how we want to approach it and what changes can we make at a local level to work even more efficiently than we did in 2020.
What are your big challenges in this role? The biggest challenge is managing all aspects of branch life and ensuring everyone stays happy including my team and most importantly, the customers. We have to work smart as we are achieving a lot in a very small branch. In just over a year of trading, the branch has achieved more than we could have imagined, and we now need to look at how we can maximise the capabilities we have.
What do you love about your role? I love working with my team and watching them grow as people and as colleagues. It’s been a difficult year and I have enjoyed seeing my team bond and pull together when the pressure was on. I love hearing positive feedback from our customers and other colleagues around the business about my team and I look forward to continuing this journey with them all.
What do you think has been your biggest achievement so far in your role?
I’m extremely proud of the success the branch has had
over its first year of trading, despite the difficulties that 2020 has presented. Opening any new branch can be a challenge and this was more so for Bodmin as it also marked a move into a new geographic market for Keyline. The trading conditions were complicated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the need to close the branch for two months.
I am proud to say that despite all these issues, we have been very successful. We met all our sales and financial targets for the year, many of them ahead of time, and have gone on to achieve year three targets in our first year. We have also grown the team by three and the fleet by two, and all during a pandemic. We have assembled a great team at Bodmin and this level of success was only possible due to their hard work and dedication.
What would you like to achieve next? I am very ambitious and have set my sights on the very top of the tree from day one! I think within Travis Perkins it doesn’t matter where you start from, if you work hard that will be recognised. Since joining the group I have had five promotions in five years and worked in five different counties. I think next for me, will be continuing to grow Bodmin and within the next few years I would love to be part of the senior team.
What advice would you give someone new to this industry?
To have complete faith in yourself and your ability. People in our industry are very willing to share their knowledge so take every opportunity to learn from experienced staff and even the customers coming in. Most importantly, stay grounded, stay humble and remember the people that have helped you along the way and take lessons from the ones who didn’t.
What would you say to someone who might be thinking about a career/getting a job in the merchant industry?
I would highly recommend it. I never thought I’d be doing this when I left school but it has turned out to be one of the best choices I have made. Except for HGV Driver, I have experienced working in most of the roles at branch level and they all have their own challenges, and every day offers something new.
What are the changes you foresee the industry making in order to survive the future? I recently wrote a short article about how COVID-19 is changing our need for human interaction and I do believe that to be the case. People are increasingly realising the value of being able to speak to someone who is knowledgeable and friendly. I think in the near future we will need to look carefully at how we can serve all our customers as efficiently as possible whilst still providing the service they have rightly come to expect from us. I am excited to see where we go next and look forward to contributing to achieving this goal. BMJ
February 2021
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net 23
MANAGER’S VIEW
Adam Franklin, Regional Director - South West
When we were looking for someone to lead the Bodmin branch, a new site in a new market,
Luke really impressed us with his clear leadership potential. It was obvious that he had the right attitude, skills and approach to make it successful, regardless of this being his first branch manager role. Luke and his team have gone from strength to strength during an extremely challenging year for the business. Right from the start he hit the ground running and has achieved more in just a few months than we could have expected.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40
