Oliver Simpson

• Rebuilt 500+ stores back to functioning position after closure from Covid, in Airports and Supermarkets. Making them legal, compliant and operational.
• Set up and managed new Facilities Team for full UK coverage Internally & Outsourcing for some services.
• Set up and actioned Infrastructure Projects to enhance trading capacity.
• Conducted all PPM requirements on Landlords premises for legal and compliance, passing audits so estate continues to trade.
• Implemented a reporting App for All Reactive Maintenance requirements linked back to CRM system and Dashboard
• Completed all outstanding build programmes across Airport Estate for new builds, exits and refits, including Supermarket locations.
• Manage Capex build budgets and PnL Maintenance budgets from forecasting to actual reporting and forecasting.

• Over this time period I Carried out a private project to downsize and relocate due to Covid closing Airspace plus Travelex went into liquidation.
• Made the decision to put a plan together to protect our future, move house and downsize.
• Worked for Royal Mail for last 4 months as a Part Time Post Person once our move was complete and we were settled, was then approached by Travelex to return.

• Aim was to build new Facilities/Project Management Team of 2 people in each region, UK, Europe, Middle East and North America to mirror Global Retail and Operations Team in Airports Sea Ports and High Street locations, to manage and support the retail business so all stores trade to full potential.
• Big part of the teams responsibility was to also project manage relevant retails projects i.e. Store moves/refits, tender wins/takeovers from exiting legacy company and new contracts won in new Airports and new terminals due to expansion.
• Successfully set up the team and supported retail business delivering daily routines and project managing bigger projects across the world in new airports and terminals.
• Main objectives was support the retail business needs 200+ stores and its objectives in Financial, Strategic, Commercial, People, and Compliance.
• Part of support offered was to work very closely with retail team on the ground reviewing, changing ways airports were changing and customer journeys.
• I also worked very closely with business development and Marketing teams to maximise all opportunities. Main area of focus was finance, managed framework of contractors and monitored all spend on each project through tendering and contractual work that was was delivered on time and under budget.
• Also achieving strategic change to bring innovation into Travelex retail environments by designing/developing stores that are sales and customer focused, cheaper, easier to build, as well having consistent look and feel across diverse network to create Global Store Standards Retail Manual for all GEO regions, with principles, processes, guidelines so achieving Operational Excellence Worldwide. Objective was to create an International brand with consistency across the estate, delivering Core Retail Message, Identity, Values, Trust, Loyalty and Brand Recognition. This was achieved following retail review with the Launch of Global Store Standards Manual in July 2020.
• The goal was not just to achieve the core message but was much about Capital Spend and review year on year Capex spending across Estate to bring down any Capex spend with formal review through Investment Committees Approval Process. This was achieved across the Estate with an average of 22% saving, then with further savings Year on Year from 5% to 11% in each region. The manual is now part of business as usual and is used to form reference material process and procedures across Retail business from, Customer Journey, to Design & Build to Tendering out of works under framework of contractors.
• Can honestly say have left a legacy across regions in Travelex through this piece of work and previous projects in Airports such as Doha In Qatar. I also have vast amount of Travel Retail knowledge/experience from around the globe as travelled vastly in my 15 years and worked with some fantastic people from various countries and cultures.

• Main responsibility was to set up the business following the main companies guidelines/process & procedures through marketing and growing the business from a new franchise, to supporting the Oxfordshire branch from conception to full years turnover. This was very successful franchise region and was set up to support diversification of Social Care Training Company into another market therefore increasing business value in preparation for sale. Sale being achieved in December 2010.

• Ran the Property Team across the World supporting retail Airport/High Street Stores 100+. Main areas of responsibility were to find high street locations that had trading license to trade in Foreign Exchange, to drive business forward, to then agree lease or partnership with landlords then agree design and fit out process of delivery to enable store to trade.
• Part of my responsibilities was to work with the retail team in each country making sure all stores traded and everything was working under maintenance contracts with service levels agreed in emergencies.
• Achievements was to deliver tender wins at Luton Airport and Helsinki Airport to then support with transformation from the legacy company to The Change Groups branding, fitout

• Objective was to coordinate, execute, monitor and control facilities and building projects across UK Estate of Airports, Sea Ports, High Street Locations, also maintain and develop Retail Facilities System to its full potential in supporting the business.
• Main responsibilities were to people manage and performance mange the team so all projects were delivered on time and on budget. To conduct inspections for on site build projects and ensure decommissioning at end of lease, after obtaining and negotiating floor space with Airport Authorities or Landlords.
• To also facilitate and execute plans/drawings with shop fitters, security and other 3rd party contractors whilst working with retail team to enable full trade and no store closures.
• Responsibility was to manage Capex spend for all ongoing works and to budget/forecast Capex spend in future business cases and tenders.
• Biggest achievement in this role was to work in the new terminal at Heathrow T5 and design and build stores across Terminal 5 on time and all under budget with new technology at that time.

• Started 18 year career with Tesco in 1985 Abingdon, Oxfordshire as fruit and veg assistant working part time onto fulltime after leaving school. Spent 18 fantastic years at Tesco learning all I know today through training delivered as Trainee Manager and through competitive way Tesco did business and become number one in the retail industry. Tesco constant desire for change and moving business forward was just right for me and to this day I still draw from experiences of my time at Tesco.
• Positions held in 18 year career at Tesco

1, Part time/Fulltime Assistant/Supervisor all Departments

2, Assistant Department Manger & Department Manager

3, Assistant Store Manager & Store Manager

4, Regional Support into other Stores to fix concerns

5, Trainee Manager In-store & Trainee Manager Regional

6, Stock Control to introduce Check Out Plus, Sales Based Ordering

7, Secondments i.e. New Store Opening Team & Regional Support

8, Home Shopping set up trial of first Banbury

• Retail experience with 18 years at Tesco can be utilised to support and develop as established and accomplished in all areas performing at a high level to progress, be promoted, spotted for future positions.