RISING STARS
THE ONES TO FOLLOW: PART 9 NEIL MCATEER
Job title: Group Buyer Company: Haldane Fisher
MANAGER’S VIEW
Neil started in the company as an order-picker, working in the timber finished goods area before moving over to the building materials department in a similar role. From there he progressed to the trade counter where he built a rapport with his customers. Having gained significant product and customer experience, he moved to internal sales, moving then to the buying department, quickly building a strng working relationship with suppliers. He has built up a vast product knowledge right across the range and has firmly established himself with suppliers, negotiating large deals for the whole Haldane Group. By constantly monitoring and ‘walking his stock’ daily, Neil has made a huge impact on reducing waste and aged stock. He works closely with suppliers and our marketing department to ensure that the prodcts are well merchandised and regularly organises promotional campaigns across his product range.
What’s your role?
My role within Haldane Fisher is the group buyer of heavy materials.
How did you get into this industry? I started in the industry in April 2004 as a yard operative within Haldane Fisher.
What might a typical day for you at work be?
In this job you do not have a typical day as each day is different. You have to interact with both customers and suppliers each day to get the best deal you can for the company as well as keeping the stock levels correct for the guys selling them.
What sort of things were you doing at work last week?
Last week at work I had various meetings with suppliers, internal colleagues and customers. Make sure the stock levels are correct and purchasing the goods at the correct price.
What ould be your big challenges in this role?
The big challenges in this role is making sure you have the correct stock purchased at the correct price to make sure the customer can complete his job on time.
What do you love about your current role? I love that each day is different and the friends you make along the way.
What do you think has been your biggest achievement so far in your role? My biggest achievement is that I started
brushing floors in the warehouse with very little knowledge of the building industry and I have worked my way up the ladder to group buyer.
What would you like to achieve next? I would like to keep improving my knowledge and continuing moving up the company ladder.
What advice would you give someone new to this industry?
The best advice I could give is to always ask questions and take on any courses to help improve your knowledge and expertise.
What would you say to someone thinking about a career in the merchant industry? My advice would be to go for it as the building industry may not be the most glamourous industry but it can open a lot of doors and it has a lot of rewards to benefit from.
What are the changes you foresee the industry making in order to survive the future?
The changes the industry would have to make is to improve the technology side of the business with online shopping and also to run programs to increase the people getting jobs in the industry and applying for jobs. . BMJ
BMJ talks to the Rising Stars of the
industry.Those individuals whose managers have pinpointed as regularly going above and beyond.
Rising Stars is sponsored by H+H UK
H+H UK is the largest manufacturer of aircrete building products, including the market-leading range of Celcon Blocks.
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Our focus is the development of products and systems to provide high performance buildings guaranteed to last several lifetimes.
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net September 2019
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