Imperial UK has successfully created a new role as part of its drive to offer specialist support to its regional business units.

The independent commercial vehicle dealer group has promoted Helen Wheatley into the new position of group tender sales executive within the corporate fleet department.

Wheatley joined Imperial 12 months ago as group fleet sales support manager, which also involved assisting the group in providing quality tender submissions. Having demonstrated a flair for completing tender documents accurately, and with the business identifying this as a key area for growth, the role of group tender sales executive was created.

Rachael Helliwell, group corporate sales manager, said: “The role is a perfect fit for Helen’s skills set. She works closely with our 13 franchise partners, supporting dealerships in supplying their local authorities and providing support to the dealers looking after companies at a national level. She has proved to be a real asset to the company.

“Helen has very quickly become a key part of our team and has worked very hard in establishing herself throughout the group. The sales support role had proved to be a significant challenge for her, as this was her first job in the motor industry.

“She had previously worked in newspaper printing roles and Government departments but now views the chance to add value to the team as an exciting development in her career.

Wheatley said: “It’s been a real learning curve but I have a background in quality assurance which means I have great attention to detail when it comes to the tender process.

“Imperial UK is well placed geographically across 39 locations, supplying all over the UK.  We are also able to utilise our own in-house body builder to provide a one-stop shop and single point invoicing, which has proved attractive to our customers.

“I have seen a 70% success rate in tender submissions to date and during the last quarter of 2016, I instigated chassis sales of half a million pounds, which I am very proud of.

“During the next few months, I intend to create more introductions to procurement teams and aim to build strong relationships with councils to really understand what is important to them, as regards vehicle specification. Housing associations, framework providers and universities are also important target sectors for us.”

Imperial UK has 13 truck and van franchise partners and boasts a dedicated fleet team, flexible servicing, tailored finance packages plus a conversion division.