Born in Bangor (N Wales), made at Mercedes-Benz & finely-tuned at Volvo.

Celebrating Apprentice Week: (10th-16th Feb. 2025)

My journey from being a "Trainee" to becoming a "Regional Director" for a global business then "Running my own Business". 

(I'm happy to share with you separately my story about my birth place).

As we celebrate Apprentice Week in the UK, I thought I would reflect on and share my own career journey. (to-date)

I started out as a Trainee Sales Executive at Mercedes-Benz, then through learning the ropes and extensive on the ground experience over a number of years, I became Regional Sales & then Regional Aftersales (Ops) Director for Volvo AB, a global business. 

I've then spent the last 10 years working for myself as a Business Consultant.

For me, my career path has been filled with learning, growth, and invaluable experiences.

And every day is "still" a school day!

Starting out at the ground level, as a green, behind the ears, Trainee Sale Executive in 1987, I learned on the job, faced challenges head-on, and embraced every opportunity that came my way to grow personally. My career journey and personal development has been anything but linear, with each role teaching me something new and shaping me into the person I am today.

For those considering Apprenticeship as a route to a career, remember that at every step (opportunity), no matter how small, make sure "you do it well" and "to the best of your ability", as this will be one of many building blocks, which help you develop,  and cumulatively leads you towards your future self and obtaining your career goals.

So, embrace learning, stay curious, and never underestimate the power of perseverance.

Here's to all the Apprentices out there – your journey is just at the beginning and the possibilities and potential "Of You" are endless.

I also believe, as I head towards the end of my career path, as a Strategic Growth Business Consultant, I can share a wealth of experience, with a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities that businesses face today. Having been through it, "warts 'n all" I understand the importance of practical, hands-on experience and the value it brings to strategic decision-making.

For those that are interested in my career path to date, below is a resume and a timeline;

The early years and Mercedes-Benz.

June 1986. I left school with 1 A-level. Throughout school, which I didn't have much interest in, I had a couple of labouring jobs, one on a farm and the other doing gardening at a local service station. I loved being outside and still do today. From Sept. 86-March 87, I also worked full time as a Surface Worker (labourer) at the local pit, Blenkinsopp Collieries. It was fantastic money for an 18 year old, however physically demanding and potentially dangerous at times.

If I hadn't been constantly prompted and prodded at the time by a friend, I'm sure I would still be playing about on the farm and/or in gardens. (the pit closed years ago)

March 1987. Trainee Sale Executive at Cumbria Commercials Vehicles (Mercedes Benz - Commercial Vehicle Dealership). I borrowed my mate's suit for the interview and was told at the interview, "If I got offered the trainee role, I'd have to get my hair cut"

Despite the ill fitting suit and long hair, I got offered the job however, timing is everything and I was fortunate for;

a) another friend pointing out and recommending me for this opportunity - I'd never even considered "sales" as a career and certainly not at a prestigious manufacture, like Mercedes-Benz.

b) Mercedes-Benz UK were piloting a 4 year Truck Sales Consultancy Development Programme (a Sales Apprenticeship) which I was one of 16 enrolled on from the UK. I was part of the first cohort of the 4 year pilot programme. I believe the programme is still running today.

1991. Assistant Sales Manager. My first manager left the company to support his family business. My new Sales Manager, externally recruited, was advised to have a deputy (a no.2). I was picked from the Sales the team.

1996. Sales Manager – Aged 28, at the time I was the youngest Sales Manager of a Mercedes Benz Commercial Dealer in the UK. and our dealer group was part of a UK PLC organisation. My first baptism of fire in having 5 direct reports and managing people, some much older and experienced than me at the time. There's loads more I could share here, however over the next 3 years, we became one of the top performing commercial truck and van dealers in the UK.

1999. Key Account Manager – Our dealer group was bought from the PLC by a privately owned business. Whilst I continued to support the sales and dealer team, there was a different structure and we all reported directly to the new privately owned group's Sales Director. Whilst I enjoyed this role and developed a great client base, plus I was on a good number (package) and sold a shed load of vehicles and supplementary services each year, I was coasting.

Being Finely-Tuned and my career journey at Volvo Trucks

March 2003. Area Sales Manager. After 16 years at Mercedes Benz and a lot of deliberation (inc. a £10k annual wage drop), I was convinced by a head hunter and changed allegiance and switched manufacturer to Volvo Trucks. I was tasked with regenerating and developing the truck market and developing the NW sales team too, for Volvo North a subsidiary of Volvo Group (UK), directly owned by Volvo AB in Sweden. (Wholly owned, vertical/integrated supply chain).

2007 – 2009. Dealer Development Manager – "Poacher come Gamekeeper". For 19 months I worked directly for the UK Commercial Director, based out of Volvo UK head office in Warwick. I supported, of behalf of the manufacture, the sales strategy development at several of the UK's Volvo dealer groups. As part of a team of 4, the financial numbers we were involved with and controlled, to a point, were mindboggling, mind a lot of the dealers thought we were more about policing their sales practices!.

March 2009. Regional Sales Director North & Scotland. As we entered a recession after the 2008 financial crisis, Volvo AB strategically changed their dealer structure and hierarchy (took out overheads). I applied and by surprise found myself being selected to be the Regional Sales Director for the North & Scotland. With 15 direct reports, collectively we managed and went through a lot of change and came out the other side in 2011 as UK Dealer of the Year.

Dec 2011 – February 2013 – Regional Aftersales (Ops) Director, this was one of my biggest challenges career wise, big jump in responsibility, 300+ staff across 12 depots and having 17 direct reports. Plus I'd never been an engineer, mind I dint think that was a handicap and in many instances a blessing.  After just over 2 years in the Aftersales Director's role, as a board, we collectively decided that the key roles and top level of hierarchy needed changed, due to the change management challenges, the embedded culture and the size of the region. 

Feb 2013 – Dec 2014 – Key Account Manager – whilst I continued to support key members across the business 1-2-1 and being part of the Senior Leadership Team, I was tasked with developing the Key Accounts role across the region and building Business Relationships with the larger regional truck and commercial vehicle operators. Deja Vu - I found myself coasting again, and wasn't personally challenged or stretched in this role.

Finally, Finding my Calling!

January 2015 to present – Business Strategy Consultant - Peter Fleming & Associates Ltd, t/a Peter Fleming Business Consultancy. Big jump and my own choice to become self-employed and a director within my own business. For the first 5 years I traded under Business Doctors Cumbria and for the last 5 years plus, under my own name. To date I've supported and worked closely with 85 local SME businesses. 

Today, over and above my Strategic Business Consultancy work, I wear several hats,  I'm an Associate Lecturer & Facilitator at Northumbria University and also Mentor on the Help to Grow Management Programme, along with mentoring some of my clients managers. I'm also a Founding Partner at CBASS and also do some volunteering too and serve as a director on the Board for BECBC (Britain's Energy Coast Business Cluster).

Whilst I haven't shared much detail on my work/management experience above, one further element, a key success factor, I've had throughout my career, at Mercedes-Benz and then Volvo was the opportunity to access world leading Management & Leadership Training and Development, along with the opportunity and experience gained from learning on the job, In that time, I also obtained a Certificate then a Diploma in Business Management, followed up with an MBA.

If you're interested in learning more about my experience "Warts n All" even if just for your own career planning purposes, please just DM me, as I'm more than happy to discuss and share stories over a coffee.

Peter Fleming (11/02/25)

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