Simon Grindrod
Swindon,Oxfordshire
Summary
Dynamic professional with extensive experience in customer service and retail management. Expertise in arboriculture, including technical equipment operation and off-road driving. Proven track record in team management, enhancing staff motivation and engagement while prioritizing health and safety through effective risk evaluation. Skilled in conflict resolution and people management, consistently achieving reliable results and driving organizational success.
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work history
LANTRA instructor
Bowline
09.2024 - Current
- Assessed individual pupil progress and adjusted lessons accordingly for better improvement.
- Maintained up-to-date subject knowledge, ensured delivery of accurate information.
- Managed student behaviour by enforcing established classroom rules, maintained discipline effectively.
- Delivered ground based training to adult learners through workshops and seminars.
Owner/Operator
Bowline
Watchfield, Oxfordshire
10.2017 - 03.2026
- Safety inspection of Arborcultural climbing and rigging equipment. applying LOLER regulations.
- Managed daily operations to ensure smooth running of the business.
- Ensured compliance with regulations, maintaining a clean safety record.
- Oversaw financial management, ensuring fiscal health of the business.
Off road Driving Instructor
British Off Road Driving Association
01.2011 - 03.2026
- Responsibilities: Training novice drivers to drive off road to high safety standards. Daily vehicle checks and valeting. Ensuring that clients have a safe and inspiring day.
Arborist
Hi-Line
08.2016 - 09.2017
- Support role to team leader. driving 3.5 tonnes work platform.
- Operated heavy machinery like stump grinders and wood chippers safely whilst on the job site.
- Utility work, working for Weston Power.
Team Leader
Gristwood and Toms
01.2015 - 07.2016
- Responsibilities: Team health and safety, ensuring work is carried out to specification and on time. dealing with the public on site. emergency call out.
Forman (Ground)
RJ Tree Services
01.2014 - 12.2014
- Responsibilities: on site running of contracts, H and S, team deployment, client leaison and pricing. Also the maintenance of power tools and plant.
Floor Manager
Snow and Rock
04.2013 - 12.2013
- Responsibilities: ensuring all staff have a good product knowledge of all technical equipment. Merchandising, assisting the store senior management to achieve targets.
Ice Wall Manager
Ellis Brigham Mountain Sports
10.2012 - 04.2013
- Managing all aspects of running an indoor ice climbing wall. includes staff training, health and safety and maintain the ice.
Deputy Floor Manager
Ellis Brigham Mountain Sports
09.2011 - 04.2013
- Responsibilities: Assisting the department manager with staff management, merchandising and helping to drive sales within the department.
Driver
Russian Olympic Shooting Team
07.2012 - 07.2012
- Responsibilities: Ensuring athletes and officials arrive on time. Ensure security for medallists as they move between venues.
Offroad Driving Instructor
Landrover Experience
03.2011 - 01.2012
- Responsibilities: Training novice drivers to drive off road to high safety standards. Daily vehicle checks and valeting. Ensuring that clients have a safe and inspiring day.
Team Leader
Ashmore Trees
08.2010 - 10.2011
- Responsibilities: vehicle and plant maintenance. supervision of a small team involved in tree surgery/site clearance work.
Managing Director
Myark Tree Care
01.2000 - 01.2010
- Responsibilities: Client liaison. Contract pricing. Staff management and recruitment. Risk assessment. Use of machinery. Dealing with the public. Invoicing and fees recovery.
Bicycle Mechanic
Cycle Surgery
01.2002 - 01.2002
- Responsibilities: Maintenance, safety checks, customer service.
Skills
- Self-motivated
- Practical
- Resourceful
- Reliable
- Enthusiastic
- Customer Service
- Arboriculture
- People management
- Knowledge of technical arboriculturel equipment
- Retail management
- Conflict resolution
- Risk Evaluation/ Health & Safety
- Team management/building
- Off road driving
- Staff motivation and engagement
- Learning style adaptation
Certification
- City & Guilds in Arboriculture
- First aid F+1
- BORDA 4x4 Off-road Driving Instructor
- NPTC: chipper, mewp, felling medium tree, stump grinder, arial rescue, rigging, cross cutting, LOLER. UA1/UA2 , brushcutter ,UA5
- Ice climbing instructor (indoor)
- Land Rover Experience- Instructor
- IPAF
- Mine field awareness training
- Mountain bike mechanic
- ROLO CSCS
- Signing lighting and guarding
- Water safe
- RoSPA advanced driver
- Instructional Techniques
Interests
Construction of custom bicycles, European travel, Land-rover restoration, climbing and bouldering, ice-climbing, mountain walking
Timeline
LANTRA instructor
Bowline
09.2024 - Current
Owner/Operator
Bowline
10.2017 - 03.2026
Arborist
Hi-Line
08.2016 - 09.2017
Team Leader
Gristwood and Toms
01.2015 - 07.2016
Forman (Ground)
RJ Tree Services
01.2014 - 12.2014
Floor Manager
Snow and Rock
04.2013 - 12.2013
Ice Wall Manager
Ellis Brigham Mountain Sports
10.2012 - 04.2013
Driver
Russian Olympic Shooting Team
07.2012 - 07.2012
Deputy Floor Manager
Ellis Brigham Mountain Sports
09.2011 - 04.2013
Offroad Driving Instructor
Landrover Experience
03.2011 - 01.2012
Off road Driving Instructor
British Off Road Driving Association
01.2011 - 03.2026
Team Leader
Ashmore Trees
08.2010 - 10.2011
Bicycle Mechanic
Cycle Surgery
01.2002 - 01.2002
Managing Director
Myark Tree Care
01.2000 - 01.2010