Paul Ashwell
Weston-super-Mare
Summary
Over 40 years of experience in Sales, Management, and Engineering within MRO sectors such as Food and Beverage, Mining, and Pharmaceuticals. Expertise in sustainability, renewables, and energy efficiency, emphasizing health and safety and operational excellence. Skilled in strategic planning, project execution, and team leadership, achieving measurable results through data analysis and process optimization. Recognized for delivering exceptional customer service and building high-performing teams across various functions.
Overview
47
47
years of professional experience
Work history
Value Delivery Specialist (Strategic BDM)
ERIKS UK & Ireland
, United Kingdom
09.2022 - Current
- Covering South East, South West and South Wales Regions
- Generating over £1M per year value-added engineering savings through innovative solutions and continuous improvement mindset.
- Safety First mentality whilst carrying out daily tasks, especially on clients sites, carrying out H&S site audits to keep people safe.
- Developed Power BI Dashboard to transparently present project pipeline status and task alignment with sales and savings metrics.
- Created and developed Dashboards for the wider business use, to understand with ease what is important and what to focus on.
- Exceptional organisational skills, through development of Excel and Power BI data Dashboards and KPI reports.
- Ability to interpret large data sets of information, into tangible and viewable data with meaning.
- Managed multiple projects across many disciplines, ensuring safety compliance at all times.
- Prioritise initiatives that enhance sustainability, achieve energy savings on CO², and reduce consumption of compressed air, electricity, and gas.
- Enhanced asset reliability, resulting in reduced downtime.
Implemented best practices to optimise operations.
Increased overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) through strategic initiatives. - Leading cross-functional teams to collaborate on successful project delivery
- Boosted client satisfaction with provision of specialised support and expert recommendations.
- Conducted site safety visits, identifying near misses and ensuring safety compliance consistently.
- Facilitated productive team meetings, fostering a collaborative work environment.
- Addressing technical issues swiftly, elevating overall system performance.
- Facilitated training sessions aimed at enhancing staff skills.
- Coordinated supplier relationships, ensuring timely delivery of products.
- Streamlined operational procedures with innovative system improvements.
- Analysed complex datasets for improved decision-making processes.
- Assessed performance against operational strategy to maintain progress towards strategic targets.
Regional Technical Benefit Manager
ERIKS UK & Ireland
, West / South west
06.2020 - 09.2022
- Support training and upskilling of customer-facing colleagues in project opportunity identification.
- Supporting top 20% of customers, delivering engineering solutions and project engagement.
- Collaborating with client engineering teams to implement best practices and achieve cost savings in daily business operations and processes.
- Motivated clients to invest in asset upgrades to achieve better performance, enhanced productivity and financial savings.
- Examining energy conservation, process optimisation and waste reduction, time savings and efficiency improvements.
- Collaborate with cross-functional internal teams and clients' engineering team to ensure successful project delivery.
- Cultivated strong relationships with clients to secure repeat business.
- Supervised project timelines for timely completion.
National Contracts Manager
ERIKS UK & Ireland
, United Kingdom
07.2018 - 01.2020
- Managed complex contracts for successful project delivery.
- Encompassing 11 dairy manufacturing sites across UK.
- Developed and launched, 11 new on-site operations of MRO specialist teams, to ensure efficient MRO supply and stores management for client contract.
- Implemented innovative cost control strategies, achieving significant savings.
- Trained junior staff members on contractual policies and procedures, improving team competence level overall.
- Mitigated contractual risks by developing robust control measures.
- Managed monthly operations and contract management in conjunction with site teams.
- Conducted site surveys, visits and inspections ahead of deadlines.
- Built and sustained strong professional relationships with key stakeholders.
- Proposed innovative business solutions to preserve and expand business opportunities and share of wallet.
- Led and motivated multiple on-site teams to achieve project deliverables.
- Coached and mentored junior employees, delivering guidance and building strong, capable teams.
- Led teams in providing customer-focused, cost-effective, and efficient service to clientele.
- Worked on up to 20 projects simultaneously.
- Selected, trained and performance-managed staff to build results-focused team.
- Represented organisation in external negotiations with diverse set of customers.
- Managing Cross-functional teams to support clients needs and aspirations with project delivery or product efficiency improvement.
- Reported on site costs and quality and quantity of project output.
- Understood and delivered contracts within agreed conditions and timeframes.
- Guaranteed site welfare conditions met HSE guidelines to promote compliance.
National Technical Manager
ERIKS UK & Ireland
, United Kingdom
08.2017 - 08.2018
- Directed national technical savings efforts across 11 dairy manufacturing facilities in UK.
- Coordinated with clients' engineering team to refine processes, achieving considerable cost savings in operations.
- Provided prompt technical support during outages, minimising downtime.
- Developed innovative solutions for complex technical problems.
- Coordinated cross-functional teams to achieve project goals.
- Coordinating site support activities, implementing engineering solutions and fostering project engagement.
- Collaborating with client engineering teams to implement best practices and achieve cost savings in daily business operations and processes.
- Motivated clients to invest in asset upgrades to achieve better performance, enhanced productivity and financial savings.
- Examining energy conservation, process optimisation and waste reduction, time savings and efficiency improvements.
- Collaborate with cross-functional internal teams and clients' engineering team to ensure successful project delivery.
- Cultivated strong relationships with clients to secure repeat business.
- Supervised project timelines for timely completion.
- Collaborated closely with 11 OnSite teams to deliver value-added improvements for customers.
On-Site MRO Specialist
ERIKS UK & Ireland
, Bridgwater
01.2013 - 08.2017
- Administered day-to-day activities of stores procurement and management.
- Render crucial assistance to clients in expanding procurement channels, reducing time and financial expenditure, and minimising stock holding.
- Function as ERIKS Site Champion working alongside site engineering team to reduce production downtime and provide support and solutions in breakdown scenarios.
- Formulating solutions to engineering issues, improving machinery operation, increasing product lifetime cycle to reduce need for maintenance.
- Increased client satisfaction by providing specialised support and advice.
- Project management and root cause failure analysis, to understand and optimise technical issues impacting OEE.
Transport & Logistics Director
Impatient Parcels
, UK & International
01.1998 - 06.2012
- Coordinated dispatching of transport vehicles distributing goods across UK & Europe.
- Leveraged supply management experience and industry contacts to streamline distribution activities.
- Introduced operational and administrative procedures to uphold integrity of current processes.
- Planned logistics across international boundaries to reliably meet delivery requirements.
- Assessed staff and team performance and regularly actioned insights to fuel improvement.
- Selected, trained and performance-managed staff to build results-focused team.
- Liaised with customers and other departments to plan timely transportation of goods.
- Directed daily operations to achieve maximum output and reduce costs.
- Evaluated supplier services against performance criteria, identifying improvement opportunities.
- Supervised fleet repair activities and validated operations after service.
- Oversaw contract negotiations with external providers, securing transport for goods and equipment.
- Adjusted pick-up and delivery schedules with changing consignment volumes.
- Educated teams on best practices to improve logistics operations and performance.
- Updated inventories with accurate stock movement data for correct, current records.
- Monitored logistical expenses to keep operating costs low.
- Introduced automated processes, reduced manual errors in order fulfilment.
- Evaluated performance metrics regularly, made necessary adjustments for continuous improvement.
- Oversaw safety measures in warehouses, minimised workplace accidents.
- Developed comprehensive logistic plans to ensure timely product delivery.
- Liaised with suppliers and customers regularly for effective relationship management.
- Managed transport budgets effectively, controlled expenses without compromising service quality.
- Conducted regular staff training, improved team's skills and productivity.
Regional Sales Engineer
Mannesmann Rexroth
, South West
02.1996 - 01.1998
- Specialising in sales of Linear Bearing products to OEM customers and authorised distributors.
- Enhanced customer experience by providing detailed product information and demonstrations.
- Developed comprehensive technical proposals for client approval.
- Liaised regularly with the marketing department to develop impactful promotional materials for products.
- Secured new business contracts for company growth with effective client presentations.
- Resolved escalated customer issues, ensuring satisfaction and repeat business.
- Managed a portfolio of accounts, effectively balancing competing demands whilst maintaining service quality standards.
- Arranged regular meetings with clients to engage with new products and services.
- Sourced new clients through targeted research and networking.
- Prepared accurate cost estimations on equipment installation and maintenance.
- Initiated new business through tactical prospecting.
- Monitored competitor activity to remain ahead of market trends and prices.
- Provided considerate sales aftercare for maintained client satisfaction.
- Advised design teams of unique client requests requiring product adaptations.
- Built rapport with new and existing customers to boost client retention.
- Presented device features and qualities to showcase business benefits.
Regional Sales Engineer
Schaeffler
, South West
01.1993 - 02.1996
- Specialising in sales of Linear Bearing products to OEM customers and authorised distributors.
- Enhanced customer experience by providing detailed product information and demonstrations.
- Developed comprehensive technical proposals for client approval.
- Liaised regularly with the marketing department to develop impactful promotional materials for products.
- Secured new business contracts for company growth with effective client presentations.
- Resolved escalated customer issues, ensuring satisfaction and repeat business.
- Managed a portfolio of accounts, effectively balancing competing demands whilst maintaining service quality standards.
- Arranged regular meetings with clients to engage with new products and services.
- Sourced new clients through targeted research and networking.
- Prepared accurate cost estimations on equipment installation and maintenance.
- Initiated new business through tactical prospecting.
- Monitored competitor activity to remain ahead of market trends and prices.
- Provided considerate sales aftercare for maintained client satisfaction.
- Advised design teams of unique client requests requiring product adaptations.
- Built rapport with new and existing customers to boost client retention.
- Presented device features and qualities to showcase business benefits.
Regional Sales Executive / Branch Manager
WYKO Industrial Services
, South West & South Wales
01.1982 - 01.1993
- Operating out of various distribution locations across the area. across WYKO, BSL and OLYMPIC
- Providing supply and support on a range of Industrial products and MRO Services, Bearings Power Transmission, Motors, Gearboxes, Pumps, Pneumatics, Valves, Hydraulics, Industrial Electrical.
- Conducted competitor analysis to identify opportunities for growth.
- Attended industry events, reinforcing the company's presence within the sector.
- Analysed sales data to inform future business decisions.
- Drove new business sales by monitoring competitor and marketing activity and delivering appropriate solution.
- Maintained contact with customers throughout sales and pre-delivery process.
- Generated new leads and opportunities to maximise revenue.
- Achieved and exceeded sales targets in line with client growth across all products and services.
- Built focused new client networks, growing business opportunities and increasing revenue possibilities.
- Generated sales forecasts to inform resource allocation and project management.
- Optimised sales methods to best engage, acquire and retain customers.
- Analysed sales reports to identify trends and update strategies.
- Worked with internal and external teams to initiate marketing strategies to grow at national, regional and specific sector levels.
- Unearthed new target markets, prospective clients and key sector decision-makers.
- Qualified prospects to determine future sales possibilities and improve conversion efforts.
- Identified and sourced premises for new branch, establishing all functions and personnel for launch
- Supervised internal and external personnel, facilitating onboarding, training, and development processes.
Apprentice - Electronics Engineer
Texas Instruments
, Plymouth
07.1978 - 01.1982
- Apprenticeship Repair and Maintenance Technician.
- Performed day to day breakdown repairs
- Performed day to day maintenance and improvement to factory processing equipment, either reactive or preventative
- Performed maintenance and repair work to keep existing electronic systems and equipment in top condition.
- Undertook training on various engineering faculties, milling, fitting, turning, electrical, electronic, mechanical.
- Spent 1 day a week at College on Day release completing ONC Electronics course.
- Testing of integrity for electronic components created during factory production
- Tested and verified adherence to specifications for prototypes, samples and production parts.
- Used fault-finding and troubleshooting expertise to detect errors and develop technical solutions.
- Performed rigorous testing of prototypes, ensuring design integrity.
Education
CCNSG PASSPORT -
ECITB
06.2024 - 06.2027
IOSH -
Safety Management Essentials
08.2023 - 08.2026
Saving Lives - Defib and CPR -
ERIKS
07.2025 -
Sustainability as an Innovation Opportunity -
LinkedIn
04.2025 -
Managing UP, Down and Across the Organization -
LinkedIn
10.2022 -
Communicating in the Language of Leadership -
LinkedIn
04.2021 -
Electronics Apprenticeship -
Texas Instruments
09.1981 -
Apprentice Training - Year 1 - Basic Engineering -
Plymouth Engineering Group Training Centre
09.1979 -
GCSEs -
Ivybridge Comprehensive School
07.1978 -
Skills
- Health and Safety Consciousness
- Strong Communication Skills
- Attention to Detail
- Team Leadership
- Operational Excellence
- Business Development
- Project Management
- Resilience under pressure
- Data analysis and visualization
- Outstanding customer service
- Performance management
- Resource allocation and management
Timeline
Saving Lives - Defib and CPR -
ERIKS
07.2025 -
Sustainability as an Innovation Opportunity -
LinkedIn
04.2025 -
CCNSG PASSPORT -
ECITB
06.2024 - 06.2027
IOSH -
Safety Management Essentials
08.2023 - 08.2026
Managing UP, Down and Across the Organization -
LinkedIn
10.2022 -
Value Delivery Specialist (Strategic BDM)
ERIKS UK & Ireland
09.2022 - Current
Communicating in the Language of Leadership -
LinkedIn
04.2021 -
Regional Technical Benefit Manager
ERIKS UK & Ireland
06.2020 - 09.2022
National Contracts Manager
ERIKS UK & Ireland
07.2018 - 01.2020
National Technical Manager
ERIKS UK & Ireland
08.2017 - 08.2018
On-Site MRO Specialist
ERIKS UK & Ireland
01.2013 - 08.2017
Transport & Logistics Director
Impatient Parcels
01.1998 - 06.2012
Regional Sales Engineer
Mannesmann Rexroth
02.1996 - 01.1998
Regional Sales Engineer
Schaeffler
01.1993 - 02.1996
Regional Sales Executive / Branch Manager
WYKO Industrial Services
01.1982 - 01.1993
Electronics Apprenticeship -
Texas Instruments
09.1981 -
Apprentice Training - Year 1 - Basic Engineering -
Plymouth Engineering Group Training Centre
09.1979 -
Apprentice - Electronics Engineer
Texas Instruments
07.1978 - 01.1982
GCSEs -
Ivybridge Comprehensive School
07.1978 -