AGM Board Member Vacancies - Nominee Biographies
HAE – TOOLS, PLANT & EQUIPMENT BOARD
4 Vacancies Available
Sharon joined Premier Plant Hire in September 2015. Her role as Group Compliance Officer has seen Sharon steer PPH through ISO 9001 & 14001 certification, FORS Bronze certification as well implementing GDPR strategies and procedures. Sharon was short listed for the award of Compliance Officer of the Year EMEA in 2017.
Sharon is currently completing a Master’s in Behavioural Decision Science focusing on organisational culture, office management and employee leadership and development.
Sharon’s unique skills, knowledge and experience brings an element of diversity and inclusion to the board. As Premier Plant Hire is a single independent depot in central London she is able to raise the views and concerns of smaller hire companies to the board discussions.
Biography
Managing Director of Brandon Hire & Hire Station, a Division of Vp plc supplying plant, tools, safety and lifting equipment. The main focus being on asset management and compliance demonstrated by being awarded the HAE SafeHire Company of the Year 2016. Prior to this I was the founding Director of Spa Asset Management, advising on restructures, divestments and acquisitions; Senior Vice President of Finning (UK) Ltd working with Caterpillar EAME to develop a rental used equipment strategy, identifying opportunities throughout the life cycle significantly growing the customer base, service and parts revenue; Managing Director of Hewden Stuart plc increasing revenues to over £300m and rental profits to a record £59.7m from £17.5m, delivering substantial acquisitions, divestments and system integration; Managing Director RGIS Inc. An inventory management company, establishing the UK and then European operations as Geschäftsführer of RGIS Inventur Spezialisten GmbH based in Düsseldorf; Initial career spent in Marks & Spencer plc, ten years in store operations across the UK and six years in Head Office as Manager Group Internal Audit and latterly in a Regional positon in Manchester culminating in the unique experience in managing the aftermath of the terrorist bombing.
Beneficial Attributes
Experience of working on several non-industry related Boards as an independent NED in a governance capacity. Appointed by the Secretary of State for Justice as the Commercial Board Trustee of Warwickshire Probation Trust and then as Non-Executive Director of Warwickshire & West Mercia CRC implementing the outsourcing of the probation service. Responsibility for maintaining Finning UK rental corporate Risk Factors (ERM) in which risks to the business were identified and action steps introduced to mitigate the identified vulnerabilities. Industry network and experience from working in an OEM (Caterpillar), a supplier (Finning UK) and several national hirers.
I am an experienced safety professional holding senior health and safety roles within the plant, access and working at height sector for over 20 years, including 15 years as a senior IPAF training instructor. I am an IPAF UK Council member, Vice Chairman of the PASMA training committee, a current member of the IPAF training committee, and an active member of the Strategic Forum Plant Safety Group MEWPs committee.
My background in HM Forces as a Royal Engineer Plant Operator Mechanic allowed me to gain experience in many different types of construction plant in critical environments. I believe strongly in raising standards in all sectors of our industry, and that by providing first-class construction training, we will achieve best practice in this sector. I would offer my full commitment to the existing HAE Board and become an active Board member as we work together to reach these industry standards.
I have extensive time served experience and knowledge across all areas of Tools, Plant and Powered Access. This knowledge and experience has enabled me to rise to the challenges of running my own hire business. I’m a people person, and can manage, motivate and coach staff to get the best from them. I feel the Board would benefit from my experience as an Independent hirer who has also worked for the National Hire Companies. I want to encourage more school leavers to consider this industry as a career rather than most people like myself who ‘just fall’ into it. I also want to help promote Safehire as a positive and encourage those companies who have left the HAE to rejoin. I’m a team player and I feel that my motivation and enthusiasm for this industry would be a benefit to the Board and new HAE members.
I started in the industry as a trainee representative with Errut Products in 1982 and then Norton Clipper before starting 727 Toolhire in 1988 in Great Dunmow with Barry Dean.
We built 727 up to five depots over ten years and then sold out to the VP group where I stayed for a further two years.
I then joined Speedy which was the most progressive hire company in the UK as Southern Regional Director. I stayed with Speedy for fourteen years and progressed to become Managing Director of London and southern England.
Following on from Speedy I worked for the GAP group as a consultant opening new tool and access depots in London before setting up a new venture in my old 727 Plant depot in Great Dunmow.
The new 727 Toolhire has now been trading for two years.
Along with being a Director of 727 I also work for SPE International which is part of the Bartell Group as a Business Development Director for the UK, Ireland and Europe.
This has taken me back to the market I first started my career in 1981 in concrete preparation and finishing sales market.
I have enjoyed my career with working as an independent and with the national companies. It has given me a great understanding of what customers want.
I have always been a salesman and working with SPE, which is s UK manufacturer gives me a great sense of pride.
I would like to be involved with the HAE as I feel I have a lot to give back to this great industry.
I left HSS in 1992 and entered into the ‘independent’ sector until May this year when I retired from full time involvement with Didcot Plant Ltd. I have had the privilege to serve as Business Development Manager, General Manager and held two directorships since my departure from HSS and the past twenty-one years with Didcot Plant have been the most rewarding of my working life. I have been able to freely use my abilities, knowledge and experience to enhance the company’s reputation and work with some very special people. If I was to best describe myself and my career it would be ‘Successful by providing quality service whilst never forsaking the health & safety of colleagues or customers for turnover. Always a loyal team player but with acceptance of leadership, its responsibilities. Originality in thought. A hireman through and through’.