Matt Kershaw
BA Business Studies, Lincolnshire and Humberside University - 1999
I was attracted to Saint-Gobain by the prospect of real management experience at a company with a true international presence.
My first job was as an area co-ordinator within Solaglas Windowcare business, which provides a 24/7 nationwide emergency glass and frame replacement service. In this environment, customers are often the victim of burglary, vandalism or storm damage.
After a brief training period, I was ‘thrown in at the deep end’ co-ordinating work in Cumbria and Lancashire. For several months, I worked from Bristol, Motherwell and Hull to learn best practices. I lived out of a suitcase, but the learning curve and the contacts I developed have proved invaluable again and again.
I have always been interested in sales and decided to make this ambition clear to senior management. Shortly thereafter, an appointment as Sales Executive followed! This was a fantastic learning experience which was shortly followed by appointment as Business Manager for one of our smaller glass distribution business in Bradford.
Over the next two years, my team and I grew the business into turnover of £1 million per year. Inevitably, I learnt a lot and made a few mistakes along the way. There really are two ways to learn!
In 2004, I was appointed Commercial Manager for our Double Glazed Unit manufacturing site in Leeds. This was a bigger business and one going through a complete transformation of core activity at the point of joining. Over the next 3 years, the entire team collaborated to reposition the business in entirely new markets with entirely new customers. Finding £6m of new sales was no small challenge which brought pressure and reward in equal measure.
Upon leaving the Graduate Programme I was appointed as National Sales Manager for our Double Glazed Unit division in 2007. I now work with 5 regional manufacturing plants, which collectively cover the whole UK and have responsibility for £35m of annual sales.
I've always found the Company gave back as much as I put in. As long as I delivered business success, I’ve been offered a range of training and career development opportunities, here in the UK and internationally.
My first job was as an area co-ordinator within Solaglas Windowcare business, which provides a 24/7 nationwide emergency glass and frame replacement service. In this environment, customers are often the victim of burglary, vandalism or storm damage.
After a brief training period, I was ‘thrown in at the deep end’ co-ordinating work in Cumbria and Lancashire. For several months, I worked from Bristol, Motherwell and Hull to learn best practices. I lived out of a suitcase, but the learning curve and the contacts I developed have proved invaluable again and again.
I have always been interested in sales and decided to make this ambition clear to senior management. Shortly thereafter, an appointment as Sales Executive followed! This was a fantastic learning experience which was shortly followed by appointment as Business Manager for one of our smaller glass distribution business in Bradford.
Over the next two years, my team and I grew the business into turnover of £1 million per year. Inevitably, I learnt a lot and made a few mistakes along the way. There really are two ways to learn!
In 2004, I was appointed Commercial Manager for our Double Glazed Unit manufacturing site in Leeds. This was a bigger business and one going through a complete transformation of core activity at the point of joining. Over the next 3 years, the entire team collaborated to reposition the business in entirely new markets with entirely new customers. Finding £6m of new sales was no small challenge which brought pressure and reward in equal measure.
Upon leaving the Graduate Programme I was appointed as National Sales Manager for our Double Glazed Unit division in 2007. I now work with 5 regional manufacturing plants, which collectively cover the whole UK and have responsibility for £35m of annual sales.
I've always found the Company gave back as much as I put in. As long as I delivered business success, I’ve been offered a range of training and career development opportunities, here in the UK and internationally.
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