- Started with the company on the 9th Dec 2013 as Assistant Manager at Burton on Trent branch 035
- Transferred over to the Maintenance Department in July 2015 until 10th March 2025
- Transferred over to Contracts and Maintenance Manager on 10th March 2025 until present
I want to share my personal journey within Formula One Autocentres—a journey that began many years ago with a job title: Assistant Manager.
When I started, my focus was exactly where you might expect: helping customers, managing the floor, and ensuring the centre ran smoothly. It was a good job, and I was proud of my work. I learned the fundamentals of leadership and the importance of customer service.
But I also saw more. I saw opportunities.
I looked at the complex machinery around me—the lifts, the diagnostic equipment, everything that makes our centres run—and I saw a challenge. I had a desire to understand not just the output of the business, but the nuts and bolts behind it.
I approached management and expressed my interest. This company believes in its people. They didn't just see an Assistant Manager; they saw potential. They supported my transition and provided the necessary training for me to become an Equipment Engineer.
This was a pivotal moment. I went from managing people to managing machinery. I was fixing complex systems, ensuring safety and efficiency, and gaining a completely new, technical skillset. It was challenging, hands-on work that required a different kind of problem-solving ability.
My time as an Equipment Engineer taught me that with the right mindset, any skill is attainable. If you're willing to learn, roll up your sleeves, and put in the work ethic, the company will invest in you.
My new technical expertise, combined with my initial management experience, created a unique skill set. I understood the operational needs of the centres and the technical requirements of the equipment. This led to my next promotion: Contracts and Maintenance Manager.
In this role, I merge all my previous experiences. I’m negotiating contracts, ensuring compliance, overseeing all maintenance activities across numerous locations, and contributing to the strategic efficiency of the entire operation. I went from a single-centre floor to managing critical infrastructure.
My story isn’t unique because it’s mine; it's unique because it’s possible for anyone here. It is a living example of what Formula One Autocentres makes possible.
This company isn't just about fitting tyres and servicing cars; it’s about engineering careers. If you have the correct mindset—the willingness to learn, adapt, and seek out new challenges—and a strong work ethic, the path forward is yours to define.
I am proof that you can move from the front desk to the workshop floor and into a management role that impacts the entire organisation.
