PEOPLE
10 MINTUES WITH: NEAL LAMBERT Technical Director, Fusion Utilities
What is your current role and how long have you been doing it?
My current role is Technical Director, which started in 2014.
What does your role entail?
My team and myself hold the product library of specification and certifications for each supplier and product, the risk of supplying a product that is not approved will cost our company a lot of money. We also work with Wolseley Learning and Development to deliver product training module in most branch locations across the country.
Our Apprenticeship Programme successfully mentored four apprentices this year and taking on more into 2023.
Major Projects: any specialist or large value project is priced and delivered through my team. Finally, Innovation, we bring together the most knowledgeable people within our business on a quarterly basis to review existing projects and bounce around latest ideas. I am also part of the Infrastructure Leadership Team.
How did you get started in this industry? One of the managers of the football team I played worked at Fusion Utilities, I asked if they had any jobs.
What roles were you doing before and how did they prepare you for this one? In total 11 roles; each gave me the perfect ground in this industry sector to do my current role. I've been: Injection Moulding Operator, Dispatch, Quality control, Service Van Engineer, Regional Sales Manager, Branch Manager, National Sales Office Manager, National Sales Manager, National Sales Director, Commercial Director & Technical Director.
What would you like to achieve in your role? For the company to be the most knowledgeable distributor in the UK.
What’s been the highlight of your career? Being in the same company for 35 years must be at the top.
What do you see as the main issues at the moment? Continuity of supply, industry knowledge, staff retention and market conditions.
If you could go back to the start of your career, what piece of advice would you give yourself?
You have two ears and one mouth, you should listen before speaking, do not ask anyone to do something unless you can do yourself. Everyday is a school day, you have the ability to learn something new. Nobody knows everything, and there are no stupid questions, you only know what you know.
What keeps you busy at the weekends? Family, married for 28 years, two sons and a daughter, all now grown up, all have partners, but still close which is nice, football, Sheffield United and a 13-year-old cocker spaniel.
If you’re at the bar – what are you drinking?
Real Ale, I am a proper Yorkshire man.
What’s your favourite book? Favourite film?
Clive Cussler and Dan Brown, Star Wars, James Bond.
If you could be a superhero, what super- power would you choose?
I have got enough to do without any supper powers. BMJ
ON THE MOVE
TIMCO has appointed Craig Varey to the role of Managing Director. Varey, who succeeds Simon Midwood, has a wealth of experience having previously led Banner (part of the EVO Group); a successful
Andrew Ingram has been announced as the new Managing Director at leading heating, plumbing and air movement materials supplier TG Lynes. Ingram has been with
TG Lynes for almost 20 years having started out as Transport Manager before progressing to General Manager and now MD.
stationery wholesaler for the last six years. Simon Midwood becomes Chairman with immediate effect, and will be responsible for leading the TIMCO Board as well as working alongside the wider Bufab Group following the company’s acquisition last March.
The Builders Merchants Federation has appointed James Mitchell, Managing Director of Kerridge Commercial Systems as a specialist Advisor to the BMF Board. Mitchell’s
appointment brings a new skill set to the BMF Board. He has 28 years’ experience of IT and software solutions.
OBITUARY: HOWARD BROOMBY
It is with great sadness that BMJ reports that Howard Broomby, former managing director of Broombys, died last week on January 23, at the age of 81.
Howard joined the family business, Broomby’s, in 1961, when it was trading from depots in Sandside and Ulverston. In 1969 he relocated to north Cumbria to oversee the opening of Workington branch and subsequent expansion of the business throughout Cumbria and Lancashire.
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net February 2023
Triton has appointed Ashley Cooper as marketing director. Cooper brings 25 years’ marketing experience, established across a number of high-profile consumer brands.
Cooper will be responsible for leading, managing and developing Triton’s marketing and digital approach.
He took over as managing director in 1978 after the death of his father Jack Broomby, and grew the company to a total of nine branches with a turnover of £31 million by 1999. Throughout his time at Broombys, Howard was heavily involved in the BMF and NMBS and took on the role of chairman of BMF Education and Training Committee for several years. In 2000, Broombys was purchased by Travis Perkins PLC.
Howard leaves behind his wife, Angela, two sons, Paul and Andrew and five grandchildren.
The funeral will be held on 23 February 2023, at 11am, at the Beetham Hall Crematorium, Milnthorpe LA7 7BQ
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