About Us
John Brooks - CMILT Tech IOSH
Managing Director - Head Consultant
Accepting Challenge
Starting work for Rugby Cement in 1977 in the despatch office learning the nuts and bolts of managing a haulage business within the mineral products industry was a humble but hugely formative and influential introduction. His career with the company reached a peak when he achieved a senior commercial role leading the packed products business.
After assisting the new owner to integrate the business into their own John moved on to other developmental roles amongst various major and independent haulage and mineral producers moving on when he felt his task was complete.
Now he manages his own consultancy business providing support services to clients many of whom were established contacts that had learned to trust and value his support and advice. They have introduced other clients to the Company’s services and so it has grown. John has never sought new business even from the start, it came to him. He does admit, however, that the opportunity to become a trainer for the Mineral Products Qualification Council came through Twitter!
As part of the preparation for starting the business, John decided that he would benefit from some hard, real-life experience of driving a lorry. Previously he drove only occasionally. Agriculture and aggregates hauliers, Fermac Traffic Services Ltd and George Varney Bulk Services Ltd were brave enough to give him that opportunity – and they worked him hard! “It’s not essential for a transport management professional to have done some real driving to do this job well, but if I where to do it again, I would do it for even longer” says John.
So along with his work experience and professional accreditations John has involved himself in his chosen career at an industry level too. He has chaired Regional Council Meetings of the Mineral Products Association for two regions and for 9 years. He has been involved with working groups and councils for the Road Haulage Association. He is also a Director of a charity.
John cannot resist a challenge, so if you think he might be able to help you, make the task challenging, he might just take it on.
Julian Brooks MILT
Director - Consultant
Feeding a Nation
After serving an apprenticeship at the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport it was time to break out into the operational side of logistics and transport. This started with a medium-term project working with a Northamptonshire based transport operation covering for the transport manager on a period of absence. This involve working closely with a fleet of “tramper” drivers and vehicles and all the challenges of a dynamic and fast-moving logistics environment.
The next role, at a large haulier and broker in the agricultural and construction bulk haulage sector, required close management of several high-profile key accounts. Managing clients requirements and expectations required good negotiation skills, advocacy and at times diplomacy. “Whilst it can be very stressful when you have a factory relying on supply in order to maintain production”, said Julian, “it is very satisfying when at the end of the day you succeed against the odds – like when there’s been a poor harvest and there are shortages of grain, how do you deal with that? Well you just do, breakfast depends on it!”
In 2020 Julian joined Sense TMR Ltd as a Director and now turns that knowledge and experience into supporting clients.
