Neil Chapman

My current responsibilities are to Manage the UK & Ireland sales operation for Timeguard Ltd

Currently running the UK sales team supplying Electrical Wholesalers with commercial lighting whilst my colleague Steve Waite sets up our Specification team, we will be working very closely together as all sales from both divisions will be channelled back through the Electrical Wholesalers. Fern-Howard is an exciting company who innovate without losing the family feeling, we work hard to promote our business ethics through the staff we employ.

After previously working for a Colburn company you leave with a desire to become a coveted "Profit Centre Manager" this is a General Manager role where you run a business from top to bottom with support from a service centre. Stearn Electric are the leading B2B Electrical Distributor whose position in the supply chain is to hold in bulk key lines, predominantly electrical, to re-distribute to Electrical Wholesalers who either cannot wait for supply direct from the manufacturer, cannot make a minimum order up with the manufacturer or are unable to gain an account direct with the manufacturer. All distribution is controlled from the Profit Centre, whilst carriers are used the preferred distribution route is via the companies vans, in total I built the team from 18 to 27 employees along with significant sales growth employing van drivers, warehouseman, accounts controllers, inventory controllers, internal sales staff & external sales staff. I am deeply proud of the growth whilst I was at the helm of Stearns London North & believe that when I left I handed over an improved business than the one which I inherited & with the new very able Profit Centre Manager I am sure they will see further improved growth.

After starting as the London Area Sales Manager I worked my way up to the Southern Regional Manager working closely with the Commercial Director Steve Waite and Managing 4 external staff.

As a 17 year old I started work in accounts payable within a Profit Centre, this position gave me a great insight into the importance of attention to detail, I progressed from accounts payable into inventory control, initially this was completed using a kardex system however I helped implement a computer system and was part of the process of launching a bespoke system within the Profit Centre. The Edmundsons system is unique and allows those who wish to progress the opportunity to grow into the business with numerous chances to advance within the business. My gregarious nature led me to sales and at the age of 21 I took up my first external sales role, I had over the previous 4 years worked within telesales as well as my other main duties. I worked as a sales representative for 4 years helping grow the business every year