PEOPLE 10 MINUTES WITH:
What is your current role and how long have you been doing it?
My current role is technical sales manager for Burdens Water Management Solutions. I started just under two years ago.
What does your role entail?
I focus on the Stormwater Management part of projects – which means mainly attenuation systems. These vary from new housing schemes to large commercial developments and infrastructure projects. Ideally, I get involved at the tender stage, pricing and tracking these projects nationwide through our key account managers, regional sales offices and branch network and with the support of our supply chain. The aim is to look at these schemes from a technical point of view – coming up with solutions and proposals to best suit the customer’s needs. My top priorities are to try and save our customers time, cash, and carbon.
How did you get started in this industry? My dad was the assistant branch manager at the Burdens branch in Manchester. They were looking for a trainee salesperson, and I was asked if I’d be interested in applying. I had no experience in the industry, and I wouldn’t have known what a bag of cement was if I had fallen over it. However, here I still am nearly 20 years on.
ANDREW TAYLOR Technical sales manager for Burdens
What roles were you doing before and how did they prepare you for this one? I have worked my way up from trainee sales negotiator to sales office manager to branch manager at Manchester. Before this role, I was sales operations manage for Burdens North and Scotland. These roles have given me an understanding of our branches, the people who work within them, the products we can offer and most importantly what our customers want.
What would you like to achieve in the role?
I would love for Burdens WMS to grow our market share year-on-year and be THE merchant of choice for attenuation and stormwater management needs
What has been the highlight of your career? I haven’t got one that stands out! I suppose progressing through the ranks and growing within one company for so long is an achievement in itself.
What do you see as the main issues for builders merchants and for the construction industry at the moment? The recent high inflation on raw materials meant the prices of goods rocketed over a period of six to 12 months, we had no choice but to pass these on to our customers.
However, as some of these have started to come down, it is a buyer’s market and it’s an aggressive market in which to win business in. Also, the cancelling or postponing of major infrastructure schemes has also had a detrimental effect on the projections made one or two years ago.
What keeps you busy at the weekends? Family. Married for 10 years and I have two children under the age of 12 so they keep me very busy – taking/picking up from different activities. When I do get time I like a round of golf with friends – nine holes only though.
If you’re at the bar – what are you drinking?
A pint of Peroni, please.
What’s your favourite book? Favourite film? Books – mainly sporting autobiographies or true crime. I have recently read Deep Cover, which is written by a friend of mine, and is the story of an undercover police officer infiltrating Manchester’s most notorious gangs. Film – Goodfellas, The Shawshank Redemption and Forrest Gump are my top three.
If you could be a superhero, what super- power would you choose?
Bananaman, because I need more fruit in my diet. BMJ
ON THE MOVE
CCF has appointed Chris Sexton as head of insulation to lead its in-house team of insulation experts. Sexton’s new role will see him head up CCF’s team of specialists, ensuring the company can continue to satisfy the needs of all new and existing customers by providing knowledgeable and impartial advice. With 17 years of experience working in the insulation industry, the last nine years of which he spent at Knauf Insulation, he is ideally positioned to help CCF customers navigate the wide range of insulation products and materials available on the market.
David Millward, who joined Fernco in 2021 as national sales manager, has been promoted to the role of sales director. Joining the business in 2021, and with a 30-year career in the builders’ merchant sector, Millward has made a significant impact amongst customers, colleagues and other industry stakeholders.
16
Long Rake Spar has appointed Dan Travis as managing director for Grantex and Industrial Minerals. Travis first joined Long Rake Spar in 2007, with his recent appointment testament to the hard work and dedication he has put in over the preceding years. Travis will bring strong leadership and a wealth of experience to his new role, driving forward these key areas for the business.
PermaGroup has appointed Duncan Kirkwood as its new managing director to spearhead the organisation’s ambitious growth plans.
Collaborating alongside long-standing director, Adrian Buttress, Duncan brings with him more than 30 years of experience in the roofing and building products industry, having held senior positions at the likes of Marley Building Materials, Icopal Limited and most recently as Managing Director of Carlisle Construction Materials.
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net October 2023
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 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72
