Stairlift supplier Handicare reshuffles senior structure to speed up growth
Driving the next transformational phase of its UK business, stairlift specialist Handicare Accessibility has announced a new senior structure in the UK following the departure of Companion’s sales & marketing director, David Harrison.
The £62 million turnover business with a workforce of over 300 says the senior level restructure will support its ambition to provide an even stronger, strategic focus on sales and service needs in what it describes as a challenging and mature marketplace.
Manufacturing and supplying a range of popular stairlifts, Handicare services various sectors of the UK marketplace from its West Midlands and West Yorkshire sites, working through a network of mobility dealers, as well as with local authorities and through its direct sales arm Companion.
Clare Brophy, the current UK Managing Director and commercial lead for stairlifts in EMEA, will now be supported by Paul Stockdill, who has now been promoted from National Sales Manager to UK Sales & Marketing Director, and newly-appointed Customer & Field Service Director Patrick Dignan.
The restructure has been prompted by the departure of David Harrison, Sales & Marketing Director at Companion.
Discussing David’s departure, Clare commented: “I would like to thank David for his outstanding commitment, achievements and contribution to our business. We wish him the best of luck and every success with his future career.”
According to the company, the new UK Commercial Team structure furthers the company’s strategic aim to integrate common functions and processes across both Companion and Handicare.
“I am extremely excited and energised by these changes as for the first time in our history, we will have a single focus through leadership upon our functions, regardless of which part of the organisation they sit within,” added Clare.
“This can only lead to better alignment, accountability, teamwork and delivery.”
At Handicare’s 2019 Dealer Day, the company revealed that 26 percent of its £62 million turnover was achieved from trade sales, leading to the introduction of the ‘Prestige’ level of its partner programme due to so many of its dealers reaching ‘Elite’ partner status.
Paul Stockdill, a key driving force of the trade sales growth and growing dealer network, will now be tasked with leading an integrated team across all Handicare’s sales channels as the company’s new UK Sales & Marketing Director.
Joining Handicare as National Sales Manager in 2016, Paul has simultaneously managed to grow the company’s local authority business with its trade business, with local authority growth increasing by 23 percent in 2018.
Together with Clare and Paul, Patrick Dignan, who joined Handicare earlier this year from Autoglass, has full end-to-end ownership for all Handicare customers and their journey.
Bringing a wealth of skill and experience in building best-in-class customer journeys, as well the development and creation of customer insight metrics and measurement programmes, Patrick will be responsible for enhancing what Handicare describes as an already industry-leading customer experience across all channels.
“Our UK market share has grown with sales currently up by nine percent which is fantastic in such a mature marketplace,” finished Clare.
“The new structure of the business is set to give rise to even greater growth – the restructured senior leadership team brings a diverse set of experiences to accelerate, innovate and execute our strategy for success.”
The senior-level restructure follows a string of new launches from Handicare, including its new 1100 stairlift and PhotoSurvey4D tool for dealers.
In addition, the company is continuing with its Everest Challenge campaign – a new incentive scheme rewarding its trade dealers with prizes for securing sales of the new 1100 straight stairlift.
