A day in the life: Jim Howard
A day in the life: Jim Howard, Managing Director of Vehicle Save (UK) Ltd National Car & Van Rental …
As the holder of a private pilot’s license I am a shareholder of a unique 4-seater Sportavia RS180 and regularly fly the light aircraft to the Continent, Channel Islands and Ireland as well as inter-UK on business and for pleasure. Covering five rental branches across Devon, Cornwall & Somerset including Mutley Plain the aircraft is well utilised and I often fly to the Newquay office.
It’s Friday and I am looking forward to a very full weekend ahead with some exciting business events. On Saturday I am a guest of Mercedes for the glittering launch of the E-class being held at a 5* hotel in Surrey. This includes driving Mercedes cars on the test track in Chobham under the guidance of a fully qualified rally instructor. In the evening dinner will be followed by a presentation from England and British Lions rugby legend Austin Healy who was a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing. Sunday will include a visit to Brooklands Motor Museum.
9.00 am
The day begins like any other dealing with correspondence, emails and telephone calls before catching up with my Operations Director James Eland.
10.30 am
I travel to Mutley Plain for a progress a meeting with Matt Davies the branch rental manager to review the Babcock contract at Devonport Royal Dockyard. The contract is for the provision of daily rental, long term and pool vehicles ranging from vans of varying sizes through to flatbed trucks and passenger cars. Vehicle Save (UK) Limited has permanent staff based at Devonport to service both Babcock’s short-term requirements through the National franchise as well as around 130 vehicles for the long term business.
12.30 pm
I grab a quick sandwich before heading back to the Exeter branch.
2.00 pm
I go to the dry cleaners to pick up my dinner jacket ready for the FSB Devon Business Awards event tonight. National is sponsoring the award for ‘Service Excellence’ and sister company Vehicle Save Contract Hire & Leasing which offers complementing services with long term contract hire and leasing to business clients is the sponsor for ‘Overall County Winner’.
3.00 pm
Back to Exeter for a marketing meeting with our PR consultant Glen King.
5.00 pm
Leave early to get ready for the awards ceremony.
7.00 pm
Drinks reception at The Palace Hotel. The black tie event overseen by popular MC David Fitzgerald of BBC Radio Devon has attracted 120 guests including the MP for Torbay, Adrian Sanders.
9.30 pm
I present a cheque for £250.00 and trophy to the winner of the ‘Service Excellence’ award to Helpful Holidays from Chagford . I then handover the top prize of £1,000 plus trophy to Paignton based HavMain a building services engineering company who won the award for ‘Overall County Winner’.
