Ken Ford
Stoke-on-Trent,Staffordshire
Summary
Results-driven professional with expertise in people management, mentoring, and team building, complemented by strong organisational skills and strategic thinking. Adept at project management, financial budgeting, and meeting targets while maintaining exceptional attention to detail. Skilled in conflict resolution, influencing ability, and decision making to foster productive collaboration and achieve business objectives. Proficient in customer engagement and active listening, with a commitment to delivering excellence through prioritisation and effective communication. First-aid certified with a focus on creating safe and supportive environments for teams to thrive.
Overview
29
29
years of professional experience
4
4
years of post-secondary education
Work History
General Manager
Don Bur Service
01.2010 - 03.2025
- I started Don Bur Service after taking voluntary redundancy
- I started within the parts department
- After showing I was a reliable person there became an opportunity to take control of a new venture within Service
- DBS started to create mobile service division and from the initial planning stage I was part of the new venture and pivotal in its role
- As the new venture started with just two service vans, this grew the business over time to increase the service vans and the mobile service operation
- To what is today a thriving part of the company
- I oversaw the Mobile support which was ran 24/7 using and increasing a call centre, this increased engineers across the UK and Ireland
- The role and expansion of the company grew and opportunities arose and I took on the service manager position within the Service division
- We showcased the service vans at venues and motor shows to show our potential of services offered
- I fore fronted the mobile service and attended shows to showcase the services we offered and spoke to many new customers who we still operate alongside today
- With movement with the company the site increasing work load and now supplying a 24-hour support service package to fleet companies across the UK
- Within the service manager role and a forward step to becoming the general manager within the company
- As a General Manager I am responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the site and a mobile service division and ensuring the smooth running of the business
- My key responsibilities include Developing and implementing strategic plans to drive the business growth and improve operational efficiency
- Managing budget and financial reporting back to the MD and Directors along with resource allocation to maximize profitability working
- Leading and mentoring a diverse team in a positive work environment and promoting professional development in all areas supporting each side of the business
- Establishing and maintaining strong relationships with clients and expanding the work flow including and adding additional work flow with new customers to enhance business and personnel opportunities
- The growth within the company saw us take on multi sites which I was pivotal in creating and taking new business leads and following through to diversify the business in to new markets
- Undertaking LCV servicing, repairs and becoming insurance approved repairers to some of the Uks leading insurance companies
- The business model changed and added new work flow allowing us to take on and support apprentices through motor vehicle and been a mentor for these new employees
- Helping to build existing knowledge to new and long term employees
- Ensuring compliance within the industry regulations and company policies to maintain high standards and expectations of quality and safety
Vehicle Estimator/Supervisor Inspector
GRS
01.2003 - 01.2010
- The role involved carrying out vehicle inspections for a remarketing company advising specification and vehicle ancillaries
- To assess vehicle for damage and provide a damage report with hours and costings electronically to the onsite body shop to repair
- After 6 months I became Inspection/Estimating supervisor and looked after a team of 14 engineers
- We were solely responsible for the vehicle appraisal, The damage quotes and liaising with the body shop for repairs and repair times
- To complete the QC on completion and arrange images and liaise with the offsite sale steams for customer enquiries
- While in this role, I completed Thatcham damage course
Vehicle Damage Assessor/Estimator
Arriva Vehicle Rentals
01.2002 - 01.2003
- Within this role I applied for
- This was to become more office based and carry out estimates on damaged commercial vehicles
- To work with local body shops within SOT and arrange vehicle repairs on a large fleet that predominately were used for railway contracts
- The vehicles were fitted out by ourselves to be used as a mess/canteen van/welfare van and from the receiving of the vehicles we managed the fleet
- The fleet would then come back into us at contract end and we would carry out appraisals and arrange for local body shops to repair, once a final cost had been agreed through estimating and agreements
Paint Sprayer
Brocksford Motors
01.2000 - 01.2003
- After Sigma castings was moved to Essex
- The building was bought by Brocksford Motors and I transitioned over to a new company who were an accident repair centre
- Within the role we were repairing and preparing customer vehicles which would have come through insurance companies after accidents
- The role was to prepare panels and repair ready for Paint process carrying out paint using the Water Based system and mixing on site
- We would then paint and blend adjacent panels and carry out the refinishing work, We were also trained in all smart repairs
Paint Sprayer
Sigma Castings
01.1996 - 01.2000
- Within the role I was a trainee paint sprayer, learning the prep and paint process using the HS paint techniques
- In the role I was preparing castings to a very high standard and refinishing
- We were a company that had a local link with JCB and within our foundries in China we carried out the build of castings and shipment into the UK
- On arrival we would store the castings and through daily orders we would carry out the preparation and repair process of the castings and carry out the refinishing to a very high standard
Education
GCSE -
Edensor High School
Longton, Stoke ON Trent 01.1992 - 01.1996
Skills
- Mentoring
- Project Management
- Conflict Resolution
- Influencing ability
- Financial budgeting
- Customer engagement
- Strategic thinking
- Active listening
- First-aid certified
- Team building and training
Accomplishments
Chartered Management Institute
Leadership Skills
Audatex Estimating
Thatcham
iOSHH Health & Safety
Timeline
General Manager
Don Bur Service
01.2010 - 03.2025
Vehicle Estimator/Supervisor Inspector
GRS
01.2003 - 01.2010
Vehicle Damage Assessor/Estimator
Arriva Vehicle Rentals
01.2002 - 01.2003
Paint Sprayer
Brocksford Motors
01.2000 - 01.2003
Paint Sprayer
Sigma Castings
01.1996 - 01.2000
GCSE -
Edensor High School
01.1992 - 01.1996
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