15th November 2024

Alan Hill

With 28 years of experience, Alan began his career as a parts delivery driver at East Midland Commercials (now Keltruck), progressing through various roles in the parts department. Encouraged by a supportive manager, he started working in used and new sales positions. After moving from Keltruck to West Pennine Trucks, he sought a new challenge – transitioning to Scania Financial Services, two and a half years ago.

Tell us about your role

My role is to liaise with the sales team at West Pennine Trucks and our customers to facilitate the funding for new Scania products. My area of responsibility spans from Telford to Stoke-on-Trent, up to Manchester, and across to Oswestry. It’s a big area involving quite a bit of travel.

Scania is a great company to work for and we pride ourselves on being loyal and protective of our customers, often going above and beyond to provide the best service. I always keep a packet of biscuits in my car so I’m ready to stop for a friendly chat with customers over a cup of coffee.

Tell us more about West Pennine Trucks

West Pennine Trucks ltd are a long established, hugely successful dealership and they consistently punch above their weight when it comes to performance. They’ve been a valued part of the Scania franchise since 1986, and the relationship has grown ever since.

They are known for reliability and quality service. It’s a great company to be associated with!

How has your role developed since you’ve been with SFS?

The role has become more challenging, largely due to changes in the economic climate, with customers now seeking the best value and streamlined processes. My role is to try and make their experience as seamless as possible, so they can focus on their business ventures.

My background in sales gives me a unique perspective that allows me to understand our customer’s needs, going beyond just focusing on the numbers. I have the ability to discuss truck specifications or finer details with them, which I know they really appreciate - but to me it’s just doing my job.

What’s the most interesting part of your role?

It’s got to be the going out on the road, meeting new customers and understanding their businesses. I like getting to know what they want to achieve and where they see themselves in the future – hopefully starting at the beginning and helping them to progress and succeed.

Tell us about a proud career moment

I like to help my customers and guide them along the way. For instance, a young couple wanted to take a leap of faith and start their own venture. The owner made the brave decision to leave his job and purchased his first used Scania from me. We maintained our relationship and I was thrilled to help them last year finance another one for them. It’s nice to see their business progress and feel you’re with them on their journey. To me they’re not just customers, they are relationships.

What makes you stand out in your role?

It’s all about going the extra mile. I hope my customers know that if they call me, I’ll get the job done. When a customer faces a problem, whether it's a vehicle delivery delay or a request for an extended settlement figure, I act quickly and efficiently to find solutions. My strong relationships with the dealerships allow me to get answers that other funders may not, ensuring clarity, quick answers and honesty throughout the process.

How would you describe the culture at SFS?

It's great! It’s all about great communication in the sales team. If anyone has an issue, we post it in the group chat and quickly receive answers - the camaraderie here is excellent. I've worked with great colleagues in the past and this role continues that trend -   it truly makes a difference.

What’s your favourite part of working with the SFS team?

The trust, collaboration and communication within the team. We’re all on the same wavelength which fosters a supportive environment.

Specifically with the West Pennine team, having previously worked with them for eight years, they give me the freedom to do my job without handholding and trust me to handle customer finance independently. They know I have the experience and understanding of our customers and their needs – I really appreciate that.

What excites you about the future of the industry?

Electrification is coming, which is exciting. The next generation of tech innovations seem to be getting better and better. However, our current focus is on providing alternative fuel solutions that help our customers reduce their carbon footprint as we work towards a more sustainable future.

What are your hobbies?

Family time is important to me, so I spend a lot of time with my wife and two children, walking our dog and exploring new places in the UK. Other than that, I enjoy scale radio-controlled cars and off-roading and I dabble in 3D printing.

Tell us a fun fact about you that your colleagues may not know?

Back in the day, I did have a moment of fame on an extreme sports TV channel. I featured in a freestyle jet skiing segment! I don't have any footage of it though, unfortunately.