SHI Spotlight - Lorraine Dendy

Welcome to SHI Spotlight, a monthly series which is dedicated to shining a light on our talented team at SHI UK.?

In this, the third instalment, we speak to Lorraine Dendy about her role as an Inside Sales Manager.? Having been promoted to the role last October, Lorraine believes that supporting her team and building strong relationships are vital in her role:

What does your role entail?

My role mainly is to support and motivate my team with aspects like progression development to help with customer accounts.?

The other side of my role is to drive the business forward. I look for efficiencies and look at how we're currently doing.

Do you enjoy your role?

I love it. It's challenging and rewarding in equal measures.

I learn something new every day at the moment, which is brilliant.?

So, what’s your background?

My background was automotive, for 11 years. So, I've worked in dealerships, I've worked for Volkswagen head office, and I've worked for a leasing company as well.

A few years ago, an opportunity came up to work for VMware. So, I worked in operations there, and then this opportunity came up at SHI. I've been at SHI for just over four years.?

I started as an Inside Sales Account Manager. Then after a year, I was made the Operations Manager.

I did that until October last year, but I've never managed before. I'm a new manager, and I'm managing quite a big team, so it's brilliant.

I wouldn't say it's easier or harder to manage a large team. It's just different - they are different challenges. As I said, my main role is to support the team. It's about building those relationships and making sure everyone's happy.?

How have you found working at SHI?

I've had a really good experience at SHI. I'm probably halfway through my working life, so I've worked for a few different companies, and I find that SHI believes in its employees and does try to walk the walk as such.

We talk a lot about progression and development and absolutely those are the opportunities we have at SHI.?

So, as I say, this is my third role within SHI. It shows that they do like to develop people from within. I find it an enjoyable place to work, and they're very flexible with how we work as well.

We're working on a hybrid basis at the moment after the pandemic, which for me is ideal. You have a few days at home, so it's a perfect balance.?

What excites you most about your job??

I think it's been given the opportunity to motivate and develop my team members to help them build on their strengths - because that's certainly what the management team did for me.

Working my way up through SHI, I've had managers and senior management who have given me the tools I need to progress within the company. So, I really try and make sure I do that for my team. That's the most rewarding impact for me.

What goals do you have for the future??

I'm quite new to my role at the moment, so I'd really just like to develop this role as best I can and add some more strings to my bow.

I'm very happy. Being an Inside Sales Manager, you never know what the next step is, but I'm happy where I am now and just excited to see how this role progresses.