Brenda Johnstone has been with Generator Power and Trackway Solutions for almost 14 years. Joining the company in 2005, she began life here as a Credit Controller within Generator Power, but has recently moved to Trackway Solutions as our new Commercial Manager. We asked Brenda to tell us about her journey with the company – and her new role – in her own words.
While my new role has brought me to an area of the business that I haven’t belonged to previously, my history with our company is a long one! I was initially hired as a Credit Controller for Generator Power in December 2005, but by June 2006 had moved across to the Sales Team, where I covered South Yorkshire, Nottingham, Derbyshire, Leicester, Lincolnshire, Northampton and Cambridge for the next 13 years.
Having performed such a diverse range of roles in my career to date, I believe my background in dealing with people from all walks of life will stand me in good stead to perform in my new job to the best of my abilities. I’ve occupied various financial roles in the past – including sales, purchasing, credit control and office management – and held the post of school bursar for a college in Wakefield, which I held for four years. During that time, I gained a Certificate in (School) Business Management, also dealing with governors, teachers, students, parents and staff alike.
In my previous customer-focussed sales role, I enjoyed building relationships, increasing the customer base and successfully managed to retain business with key customers for numerous years – and they remain clients of ours to this day. I dealt with site managers and procurement departments for a wide gamut of businesses both big and small, increasing our number of accounts and key customers.
My new role is looking after the financial side of the Trackway Solutions business, ensuring that we offer the best service to our customers in the most cost-effective way possible. It’s going to be both exciting and challenging, but it’s a job I’m really enjoying getting to grips with. I love that every day brings me something new to learn and a fresh challenge, with lots still left to learn – in particular, the trackway installation process and transport regulations. However, with the help and support of an experienced team around me, I’m sure I’ll be up to speed in no time at all.
There are lots of goals I’m hoping to achieve for Trackway Solutions commercially, but my priority will be to aid our finances by increasing profit and efficiency by working collaboratively in a smarter manner, which should in turn help grow the business and bring us closer to our collective goal of being one of the best independent trackway providers in the country.
Away from work my hobbies include motorcycling! I visit the Isle Of Man TT and Manx Rally most years, and I also help fundraise for various charities as an active member of the Northern Soul scene. I’m also a keen film lover, and wind down from a hard week at work by relaxing in the hot tub – which I highly recommend!
It’s great to be learning new skills and information, and nice to be in such a brilliant company and back in an office-based role again. I’m really looking forward to this fresh challenge and getting some results!
