Blackwood Engineering Commercial Manager Daniel Evans discusses overcoming uncertain economic times and how Blackwood is delivering for its customers.
What is your role as Blackwood’s Commercial Manager?
My overall role means I am responsible for the day-to-day management of the Commercial team and its activities.
The commercial team is involved in numerous facets of business – sales and marketing, financial management, customer pricing, key account management and contract negotiation.
We work with our customers and prospective new customers to ensure that our customers have everything they need to build the machines of tomorrow.
What is the biggest challenges commercials have faced last 12 months?
The biggest challenges for the Commercial team over the last 12 months has been trading in uncertain economic times. With increased shipping costs, raw material increases and rising energy costs worldwide it has been an interesting and challenging 12 months for the business.
Despite this, Blackwood has shown great ability to “move with the times” which has not gone unnoticed with our customers who continue to show faith in us with promising forecasts.
What challenges are you currently facing?
My biggest challenge has been leading a new team through these uncertain times and delivering the results for our business and our customers.
Fortunately, I have a wonderful team with the determination and drive to deliver best in class service to our customers who are passionate about what they do and how they do it.
Both our Account Managers and Marketing functions are aligned with the customers’ expectations and continue to deliver results for our business.
How are you overcoming these challenges?
Personally, I have tried to lead from the front and demonstrate that with hard work and efficiency Blackwood can overcome these industry challenges and continue to offer our fantastic turn-key solution to our customers. I have relied a great deal on the wider Blackwood team who have excellent knowledge and experience in this industry.
How does the Commercial Team work towards delivering the Blackwood Way?
Blackwood have recently launched our new Values programme focusing on Relationships, Agility, Drive, Integrity and Ownership which form a key part of the Blackwood Way. The Commercial team encompass all of these and demonstrate them daily.
Although our focus as a relatively new team working in an ever-changing environment of late has been Relationships and Agility ensuring that the Account Managers in the Commercial Team are building on the long-lasting relationships we have built with our customers over the last 25 years, whilst ensuring we are agile enough to move with our customer demands has been fundamental to our success.
Any final thoughts?
I would like to thank the entire Blackwood team for their commitment and assistance towards the Commercial team over the last 12 months, and it is great to see the Blackwood family growing with excellent personnel introductions to our business.
While there has been Commercial challenges in terms of supply and pricing, I am proud of the Blackwood team as we continue to go above and beyond stepping up to deliver for our valued customers.
