Engineering graduate rising up ranks of leading UK machinery dealer

Machinery dealership management graduate Chris Osborne is using his degree to help further his career at Finning UK.

Chris completed his Foundation Degree in Machinery Dealership Management alongside working full time for Finning. Having graduated in 2014, he’s now progressed to a managerial role with the company.

As a Product Support Account Manager for Finning UK,  Chris, 25,  is in charge of around 100 accounts in the South East. Keen to progress in his career, Chris seized this opportunity for promotion,  taking the challenging decision to relocate from his home town of Cannock, Staffordshire for the role based in Ashford in Kent.

His role involves building relationships with customers, coordinating  complex machinery repairs and with liaising between manufacturers, dealers and customers. He’s also responsible for generating and growing new business opportunities.

Previously a repair engineer, Chris trained through Finning’s specialist apprentice academy (starting in 2007) where he achieved his Advanced Apprenticeship in Plant Maintenance and Repair. Moving up in the company, he then progressed into an office based condition monitoring role, where he remotely monitored and pre-empted faults with customers’ machines. It was during this time that Finning UK gave Chris the opportunity to study for his Foundation Degree in Machinery Dealership Management with Reaseheath.

Said Chris: “The course was varied and enjoyable.  It gave me the opportunity to make new contacts, build industry links and share best practice with other professionals in the field.”

Chris spent a further two years in a used equipment machine sales position for Finning before starting in his Product Support Account Manager position in late 2015. After only a few months in the role he’s loving the new challenge and is excited to continue to further his career with Finning UK.