Iwan Parry

Based in our Head Office in Llangefni, Anglesey. Responsible for managing Inventory of the Huws Gray Group which consists of 250+ trading depots, 7 Distribution centres and several specialist centres with a combined Inventory holding in excess of £200m and turnover of £1.6b.

Responsibilities include:

• Multi-site Stock management. Liaising with the operational teams to ensure that we have the right breadth of stock in all our branches, overcoming challenges that comes with having locations that vary in size and capacity.
• Working closely with the Finance, Operational and Commercial teams to ensure that Inventory KPIs are met. I.e essential stock availability, Max stock levels in line with sales demand, Live Inventory vs Inventory targets, Aged stock.
• Established operational and administrative procedures, including procedures for the yearly financial stock count for the group and other inventory related procedures i.e Stock ordering. Working alongside the operational teams - Regional & area directors to ensure that all procedures are enforced and followed across our branch network.
• Analysed data to forecast future requirements and supplies needed.
• Identify opportunities to maximise profitability e.g identify high demand and fast selling products to purchase in bulk into our distribution centres, maximising our profitability by protecting buying gains centrally.
• Present to upper management/directors weekly as part of the 'Stock Working Group' which includes the CEO, Managing Directors and Finance director with updates on Inventory initiatives.
• Daily use of Excel and other internal reporting software to provide detailed reports for the group.
• In 2023, delivered on the business' need to reduce inventory by approx £40m due to a drop in the market, freeing up CapEx. Identified opportunities to reduce inventory by dealing with 'problem stock' such as overstocks, discontinued lines, aged stock, slow and non moving stock.
• Reacting quickly to trends within the market. Both inflation and deflation being a major challenge over the last 18-24 months, the need to be agile when needing to purchase stock prior to inflation and having to manage inventory more carefully when faced with deflation within some product categories.
• Leading on group wide inventory related projects, communicating with all relevant stakeholders at all times to ensure efficiency and full compliance.
• Reporting of progress and compliance on key projects, liaising with the operational teams to ensure smooth progress and report back to all relevant stakeholders.

Full responsibility of all operations within the branch. Managing a team of 9 people and reporting into the area director.

Responsibilities included:

• Delivering excellent customer service
• Taking responsibility for the P&L & customer ledger
• Generating & developing business opportunities
• Enabling the team to reach their full potential, through regular in-house and supplier training, one-to-ones, and annual performance reviews
• Managing all resources within the branch, including stock, machines & vehicles
• Health & Safety compliance - Regularly assessing the workplace for any potential H&S hazards and taking steps to reduce risks on a daily basis. Regularly check that all H&S documentation is kept up to date and any incidents are reported and documented promptly.
• Ensure that any external contractors visiting the site are authorised to carry out any works/inspections, including carrying out site inductions and ensuring they wear appropriate PPE. Keep documentation of all external contractors visiting the branch including logs of works carried out.
• Visit construction sites representing Huws Gray to discuss new sales opportunities, ensuring that all site safety rules are adhered to at all times.
• Transport - Ensure that machine/plant operators and delivery drivers/HIAB operators carry out their daily checks. I would carry out monthly audits of these checks including observing colleagues carrying out the checks. All checks, inspections and audits were documented and kept for a period of 12 months.
• Transport - Ensure that all services/MOT's/Inspections are carried out on all Company vehicles at the branch - arranging for vehicles to be taken for 9 weekly services, MOT's etc to council test centres.
• Work closely with HGV drivers in branch to ensure they are up to date with their driving hours. Use software such as Clockwatcher to download their Tachographs onto the company system on a weekly basis and use software such as RAM Tracking to monitor driver behaviours.
• Was in post during the COVID pandemic which brought several challenges, worked with the H&S team to identify safe operating practices in the branch in line with legislation.
• Delivered record sales & performance for the branch - achieving £3m sales in 2020.
• Responsible for coordinating and managing the end of year stock take, ensuring that the count was carried out accurately in line with group process. Collating all relevant information for the finance team and auditors.

After 12 months of working as a Yard Operative/Salesman, I was promoted to Assistant Manager.

Responsibilities included:

• Delivering excellent customer service
• Being the main point of contact in the absence of the Branch Manager
• Generating & developing business opportunities from new, lapsed, and existing customers
• Supporting the Branch Manager to enable the team to reach their full potential. Managing a team of 12 people which included a Kitchen & Bathroom showroom.
• Transport - Ensure that machine/plant operators and delivery drivers/HIAB operators carry out their daily checks. I would carry out monthly audits of these checks including observing colleagues carrying out the checks.
• Transport - Ensure that all services/MOT's/Inspections are carried out on all Company vehicles at the branch - arranging for vehicles to be taken for 9 weekly services, MOT's etc to council test centres.
• Work closely with HGV drivers in branch to ensure they are up to date with their driving hours. Use software such as Clockwatcher to download their Tachographs onto the company system on a weekly basis and use software such as RAM Tracking to monitor driver behaviours.
• Ordering stock in line with the business processes.
• Was responsible for all Stock/Inventory administration in the branch, including receipting in of stock, reporting stock shortages, ordering stock, raising supplier returns when necessary, liaising with suppliers to retrieve credit notes.
• Along with the branch manager, manage the end of year stocktake to ensure that the count was carried out to a high standard in line with the group process.

In May 2015 I was given the opportunity to join Huws Gray as a Yard Operative. Here I gained a Counterbalance Forklift license.

Responsibilities include:

• Assisted branch management with equipment checks and maintenance.
• Loaded equipment securely to minimise damage and risk.
• Moved stock around by hand, using forklift truck or lifting gear.
• Drove forklift trucks responsibly, upholding staff and environment safety.
• Ordering of stock inline with business processes.
• Loaded and unloaded deliveries, verifying quantity and quality requirements against paperwork.
• Serve customers and offering a high level of customer service.
• Sorted materials on warehouse racks and shelves.