A day in the life of a branch manager at Travis Perkins: Matt’s colleague story

What did you do before joining Travis Perkins plc? 

“Before joining TP, I spent 14 rewarding years at Currys, starting as a Saturday Till Operator and progressing through roles in sales, B2B office, managing a Vodafone shop, and finally as an Assistant Manager and Branch Manager.

My diverse experiences in sales, customer service, and management have been instrumental in shaping my career at TP.”

Tell us about your career journey so far at Travis Perkins 

“In a short span, I progressed from leading a 2-member team to overseeing a 5-member team, substantially growing monthly revenues to an average of £90k - £100k while managing an extensive fleet of plant and vehicles. 

After honing my sales and management skills in this role, I felt I had gotten the most out of the Toolhire business and wanted a new challenge. 

Although my application for the Hire Ops Role in the South East in 2022 was unsuccessful, it prompted me to reassess my career trajectory within the company. 

Conversations with my Regional Director steered me toward applying for the Branch Manager role in Stowmarket, where I knew I could make some positive changes and significantly impact the business.”

One of our values is ‘we give our best to be the best’ and this looks like pushing ourselves to be bold, going the extra mile and delivering, and always being proud to own our actions. Matt is someone who truly embodies this value and has grown from strength to strength as a result. 

How has Travis Perkins plc supported your growth and professional development? 

“Travis Perkins has been incredibly supportive of my growth journey. I'm on the cusp of finishing up the Level 5 Management Apprenticeship, which has been a significant learning curve for me. 

I'll be honest; I wasn't overly thrilled about diving into more studies, especially since I wasn't always big on academics. But you know what? I've taken on the challenge of this apprenticeship, managing my time effectively to make it happen. 

I'm stoked that I'll soon have this high-level qualification under my belt—I am confident it will open up doors for future roles and opportunities.” 

We are committed to fostering professional development and we offer Apprenticeships as a pathway for our colleagues seeking to expand their expertise or venture into new domains. 

These Apprenticeship programmes are designed to set you up for a successful career and serve as a valuable opportunity for upskilling and exploring diverse areas within the company's operations.

What does a day in the life of a branch manager look like for you? 

“The role of a Branch Manager is based on 3 key points - Sales, Safety and Service. If I keep these at the forefront of what I do every day, I won’t go far wrong.

A usual day involves…

• greeting and talking to customers, 
• checking in with colleagues to make sure that we are aligned in what we want to achieve
• doing safety walks and checking off the vehicles
• emails lots of emails, 
• sales, sales, and more sales, 
• paying invoices 
• keeping an eye on stock levels, 
• and most importantly I want to make sure my team go home safe.”

What do you enjoy most about working at Travis Perkins plc? 

“You know, the best part of what I do is helping my colleagues step up and grow. I believe in nurturing the next generation of managers, making sure they've got what it takes to keep things compliant, and safe, and smashing those sales targets. 

What's kept me going strong with TP? It's the incredible folks I work with, the relationships I've built with our customers, and TP's clear vision and ambitious goals. If you're keen to progress your career, TP's the place to be—they support your career growth.”

We are proud to have fostered an environment where progression is not just encouraged but actively supported, making it an excellent workplace for those aspiring to advance in their careers. 

Considering working with Travis Perkins plc? Here is Matt’s advice 

“Absolutely do it! Whichever level you start, the opportunities for growth and advancement are genuinely within reach.

If you're ready to put in the effort and prioritise safety, you're bound to thrive. If you're seeking to be part of something meaningful and make a real impact, joining Travis Perkins is an excellent choice.” 

What are you waiting for? Join our supportive community, take your career to new heights, and apply today.