This month we sat down with Ed Trueman, our Public Sector Consultant, to talk about his role here at Vision and his plans for the future.
What is your job at Vision?
My current role is Public Sector Consultant… for the Northern region, encompassing Local and Central Government, all areas of Education, Charities, Public Transport, Housing Associations, and the NHS. The job is quite varied and interesting, so no two days are ever the same.
How long have you been with Vision?
I joined Vision in March 2022, so I’m a newbie! I was really impressed after speaking with Leon Wragg (Head of Public Sector) and Martin Randall (Director of Sales & Marketing) about their vision (pardon the pun) for growth in the Public space in the North and South regions, so it was an exciting time to join the company.
What does your job include and what do you do on a day-today basis?
As the role is specifically new business development, my main focus is on managed print, but I also spend time looking at other ways to engage with new customers using our IT products and services. My day consists of reaching out via LinkedIn, telephone, and email to potential new Vision customers, helping to promote the company’s name and profile into new areas across the Northern region and keeping our CRM updated – which is crucial for future pre-engagement.
What do you find the most rewarding in your job role?
In all honesty, you can’t beat the adrenaline rush after winning a deal! It’s the best feeling if you’ve dedicated a lot of work engaging with the customer pre-tender, compiling a fantastic tender response (with the help of our bids, PPD and solutions team of course) to then have the customer select you above other bidders.
Having won several bids since joining Vision, it’s reassuring that price isn’t the only thing that customers focus on. There’s a desire to form long-term partnerships on both sides, and the benefits that can be had for sustainable procurement.
What do you find the most challenging in your job role?
One challenge is being told over and over again to…”Please email this address”…since the pandemic began it’s become increasingly frustrating to not be able to speak to people! With a high number of IT & Procurement personnel still working from home, it can make the new business discovery days quite tedious as it’s much more fun to have a conversation and build a rapport with someone! Another challenge is the number of customers that have taken extensions with their incumbent supplier for 12 or 24 months – great for future opportunities but it does make the current pipeline suffer just a little.
Reflect back from Day One to now. How have you evolved in your current job?
Our core business is document and print solutions. We have a very healthy portfolio of NHS and education customers as well as finding some success in offering other technology products to new clients, which included winning a recent tender to supply and install 39 x Samsung Interactive white boards with mini-pcs for classroom teaching at Myerscough College in Preston. We were able to utilise our partnerships with Westcoast, AzteQ and Very PC to attract a highly competitive package and secure the tender win. We have since secured additional orders from the college, which is all part of our partnership approach.
What are your hobbies outside of work?
Football! I’m an avid Liverpool fan and part time Claret! Until recently I managed an u15 football team, but after serving 9 years as coach I’ve hung up my boots to concentrate watching my son David play next season. I also enjoy holidays, and as my wife is an independent travel agent, she will always find a bargain for a short break away. It’s important for me to get out and explore the countryside so I also enjoy taking long walks with the dog or jumping on the trusted mountain bike to go and see some Lancashire scenery.
If you could change two things about the world, what would you change?
The climate! Being a red-head, hot weather doesn’t agree with me, so would love to push a button to take the worlds climate back 50 years and start the investment and scientific development to prevent Global Warming and keep the temps below 25c!
Secondly, I would like to see a massive investment in public transport, our trainlines and infrastructure needs significant investment to bring us up to the levels of other countries.
What is something that no-one knows about you?
I once won a bottle of champagne (well I say champagne, it was probably Pomagne) telling a joke on stage with Mick Miller, the comedian at Blackpool South pier in 1999…the winning joke I’m afraid I cant repeat!
Who do you admire most in your life?
My daughter. She was diagnosed in April 2021 aged 16 with Crohn’s disease and Auto-immune Hepatitis of the liver, and the way she has taken on this life changing challenge head on greatly inspires me! She has not complained about the twice daily medication she takes, the numerous visits to hospital for blood tests or the change in her diet, she’s a genuine real inspiration!
