KEN HOWARD

25 MEADWAY
BEDFORD
MK41 9HU
TEL Mobile 07581 856331 Home 01234 302613
E MAIL: kbhoward@gmail.com

PROFILE

A proactive, energetic and focused professional Regional / Operations Manager with extensive expertise, combining technical
and management skills gained within both public and retail sectors. Versatile and adaptable, welcomes challenges and
responds positively to pressure within a fast moving and demanding environments. A problem solver and decision maker that
generates effective solutions based on in-depth technical/market knowledge and sound judgment. Good Multi Site knowledge
which enhances teams performances

Key Skills

Leadership
A true believer in being magnanimous, creative, and assertive. This combined with dedication, integrity and being open
cumulates in a fair and more responsive workforce. Good communicator and motivator who has the vision to stand against
critics and maintain an honest and consistent management structure from the shop floor to senior level

Change Management
The ability to treat employees with stability through change and keep the communication ladders free flowing to all staff.
The ability to include employees with control, inclusion and openness throughout the process. The ability to know that fears of
staff have to be dealt with compassionately, professionally with clear and concise practices.
The knowledge that change expectations have to be carried out realistically and the ‘Loss Curve ‘process is open to discussion
with all employees.
Diagnose the employee’s resistance to change and assist employees through the transition of the programme. Create successful
action plans for personal and professional advancement during the change process. Develop a change management plan for all
employees. Deal with the four main principles of change 1) Awareness – The need to change 2) Desire - To engage all staff to
participate in the change programme set 3) Knowledge – Of how to change and finally 4) Reinforcement – The ability to keep
the changes in place once the programme has been completed.

Performance
The knowledge and management skill set to provide a deeper sense of purpose. The ability to produce better teams with higher
performance goals compared to competitors. The desire to achieve mutual accountability and acknowledgement across the
board to achieve the overall aim of the company. Management abilities to change work procedures, processes and procedures
to achieve the company’s aims.
The ability to ‘Get the Best’ from employees through respect, honesty, trustworthiness and openness.

Strategy
Capable of setting out realistic plans for production, sales, growth and future requirements. The ability to work with all
employees to achieve overall goals.
The knowledge to plan objectives, timescales and plans for the immediate and future terms. The ability to review, change,
organise and deliver set plans in realistic time periods.
The ability to process changes to include customer satisfaction, client needs, and customer responses and finally give the client
what they need with the minimal of fuss or lost time.
The ability to assist, monitor and advise other departments including Production, backroom, sales and technical departments.
The ability to work with all departments to produce an overall game plane for short and long term goals and aims through a
open , responsive and professional team environment .

Man Management

The knowledge and abilities to produce Route Maps, Individual KPIs and performance plans for the development of all staff.
The ability to mentor, coach and develop training plans to all staff.

Other Basic Skill Sets

Operational/Business Development:
• Researching, identifying and following up business opportunities.
• Instigating initial contact with decision makers to raise awareness of products and services
• Forward planning and strategy formulation based on prevailing trends
• Identifying, implementing and managing effective policies, protocols and technology
• Autonomous P&L control including budgets, cash flow forecasts and ongoing monitoring
 • Devising, agreeing and monitoring all advertising and promotional activities
• Overseeing all sales initiatives in conjunction with Sales and Administration departments
• Experienced and innovative general manager with sophisticated sales, customer service and business administration
skills
• High personal integrity, and able to relate to and create trust in all
• Highly articulate, confident and persuasive team builder, able to motivate and communicate to achieve exceptional
business performance
• Dependable and reliable in supporting and enabling team effort to produce genuine long-term sustainable
development
• Persistent and flexible approach to the mutually beneficial achievement of business plans and personal goals of staff,
suppliers and customers.
• Interviewing, assessing and recruiting suitable candidates
• Team leading and motivating multi-disciplinary staff to maximize efficiency and output
• Task and work schedule planning according to skill-mix and ability
• Making effective use of in-house and external training providers to maximise potential
• Conducting regular reviews and one-to-one appraisals
• Carrying out disciplinary and appeal procedures where appropriate
• Knowledge and experience of TUPE regulations

GENERAL MANAGER
HSS Hire Services Group
Aug 2007 – Oct 2009

Responsible for the day to day management of a multi site business. This role encompasses many factors and disciplines
involved in a complex business structure. These include

• Man Management – The man management of staff at various multi locations throughout a wide area
• Profit and lose – of each individual branch. Setting of Budgets and Targets. Overall control of Area budget and Target
• Training- Training of all staff members in product and management skills
• Health and Safety – Full health and Safety responsibilities to locations , staff and clients
• Area marketing – Marketing and PR for area , branch and company
• KPIs and Route Map – Individual setting of KPIs , Route maps , Discipline procedures and HR
• Client Care – Customer satisfaction, sales , service and hospitality
• New Business – Development of new business and relationship building to keep existing client base

GENERAL/OPERATIONS MANAGER
NMT Crane Hire Limited
2005- 2007

The day-to-day running of a fast paced Crane Hire Company

Overall responsibility for man power , day to day business matters, health and safety, coordination of office, workshop and
manufacturing to ensure clear areas are marked and the flow of information passes through the system in the correct fashion
using a matrix working factor.

• Functional Sales and Marketing duties within the large in house accounts sector
• Senior Health and Safety manager
• Drivers committee chairman (interlink between drivers, staff and Company Directors)
• New start induction manager
• Initiated and carried out review for Investors in People Award (7 weeks)
• Implementation of company procedures and standards
• Setting the company marketing strategy and re branding of company livery
• Day to day business activities
• Multi tasking in both daily business matters including client relationships, order priorities and man management
procedures
• Ensuring all staff performs to their capabilities and ensuring managers understand their roles, their abilities and
responsibilities at all times.
INTERNATIONAL MANAGER
2001- JULY 2005
Various Companies

Consultant to a wide and varied range of clients including manufacturing, construction and the retail trade dealing in a mixture
of various business matters. Utilising various protocol measures involved in a multi cultural business market. Based in
Portugal and Spain (non tourist areas) for the last four years I have worked for many large foreign top clients on a contractual
basis.

• Ensuring correct procedures are carried out at the right time

• Demonstrating the ability to get the job done on time every time
• The ability to utilise all business procedures to increase profitability
• Multi tasking ability from workshop floor to office related matters.
• Not being afraid to get ones hands dirty
• Organisational abilities combined with excellent man management attributes
• The ability to command respect not fear from employees at all levels.

OPERATIONS / BUSINESS MANAGER

Cairnwell Components
1999-2001

• Responsible for all aspects of business set-up and integration

• Responsible for increase in profit and sales margins
• Staff responsibility for a team of twenty workshop and sales staff
• Determining factors for the increase of motivation, performance and sales techniques
• National Account maintenance and sales
• HR management
• Health and safety
• Responsibility for Bespoke clientele and product manufacturing

HER MAJESTYS ARMED FORCES – SERGEANT

1981-1999

• City and Guilds qualifications in various subjects

• Served Europe and worldwide
• Various teaching and instructor qualifications (more details on request)
• Multi-cultural working environments, both in the UK and abroad
• Proficient self -starter
• Ability to get the job done
• Proven ability in leadership and management skills
• Communication and training skills/team player

TRAINING
• Man Management and communication training courses
• Cosh and Riddle trained
• First Aid Trained (to be reviewed)
• Basic health and safety courses
• Sales management techniques
• General Manager Development Training
• Effective Management Training
• Effective Coaching Training

QUALIFICATIONS

• HND/HNC: Business Management

• City & Guilds: Mathematics, English, Man Management
• Scottish Higher: Mathematics - Scottish Ordinary: Mathematics, English, English Oral
• Institute for supervisory management
• Institute of leadership management
• Computer literate in Windows, Excel, Outlook, Explorer, Word and basic design system programs
PERSONAL DETAILS

• Married with two daughters and one son

• Full UK and International driving licenses to HGV