Employee Focus: Ian Winstanley, Business Sales Manager

Another Torque employee with a fascinating and varied background, Ian’s spent his entire career moving forwards. But there was one occasion in his past when going backwards was the story…

Read on to find out more about Ian and his duties at Torque.

Ianwinstanley

What is your role, and can you tell us a little about it?

Business Sales Manager. My responsibility is sourcing new business opportunities, maintaining relationships with current customers.

How long have you worked for Torque?

Now in my ninth year

What do you love most about your job?

Meeting and introducing new people to the wide range of services within Torque and the challenge of winning new business.

How did you progress into your current role?

I initially started my career working in Textiles as a second mate in the transport dept. Then trained as a class one driver and drove HGV’s before moving into the office to plan and route the vehicle fleet’s daily journeys. This role then led to me moving into the Sales Department… and the rest is history.

What invaluable thing have you learnt in your role?

Sourcing new business can be both rewarding and disappointing, but disappointments should not be taken personally. Learn about the strengths and weaknesses of the business and services you’re selling and trust in your own ability.

What one piece of advice would you give someone who is interested in a similar job?

Setbacks are inevitable. Move on from them and back yourself to win the next one.

Can you tell us the funniest or most interesting thing to happen to you at work?

I was rushing to get a last-minute train to Glasgow for a meeting. As I ran to the platform the train was sat waiting. I quickly jumped on the train as it set off, only to find out a few minutes later I’d jumped on the wrong train and the next stop was Edinburgh.

How do you think Torque go the extra mile for their customers?

Torque offers a great service with flexibility, knowing the business and customers’ needs.

Will you share a fun fact about yourself?

I love cars, and in the early days of dating my wife I drove a Cortina 1600E. One evening, after dropping off my then girlfriend and reversing round to begin my journey home, I tried to engage first gear only to discover that the car had jammed in reverse!

The distance back to our house is the equivalent from Bradford to Leeds with all the usual hazards: traffic lights, T-Junctions, roundabouts etc. but I was not going to leave my car.
I therefore got my wife to sit in the driver’s seat, dip the clutch to disengage the gear while I pushed to turn the car round to face in the right direction but backwards. I then said my goodbyes again and began my journey home on the right side of the road but in reverse. I had lots of people giving me nice gestures and shouting words of encouragement beginning with “F”, but fortunately for me I didn’t come across any police cars. Three and a half hours later I finally arrived home.

The following day, a mate and I dropped the gearbox and sorted the jammed gear. It never happened again.

If you could invite 3 people (alive or dead) to a dinner party you were hosting, who would they be, and why would you invite them?

My wife is Irish and was brought up by her Aunty. I would like to have invited her late mother and other Irish relations to dinner, to show them what they have missed out on and tell them what a bunch of misfits they all were!