Rachael Rushton, Regional Head of Sales, and Peter Marshall, Regional Head of Operations, cover the Midlands and Home Counties area for Dawsongroup vans. Between them, they manage their team at the Milton Keynes and Birmingham branches to make sure that everything runs smoothly and customers are kept happy.
The Journey So Far
Both Rachael and Peter have been with Dawsongroup for over 7 years and have grown alongside the company during this time. Rachael joined Dawsongroup back in 2017 from another LCV company, where she took on the role of Retail Remarketing Manager for 2 years. After helping set up the Van Ninja remarketing business, Rachael then took on the role of Regional Head of Sales. Similarly, Peter started his journey at Dawsongroup as the Depot Manager for Milton Keynes, before progressing to Regional Operations Manager.
Between them, they have grown the Midlands and Home Counties region at an impressive rate. Since 2018, Peter and Rachael have more than doubled the total of vehicles on rent – which is a great achievement when you consider having to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic and turbulent market during this time. Whilst Rachael manages new stock, vehicle rates, and the sales team, Peter manages the operational team, vehicles coming in and out, and is a point of contact for existing customers. Between them, they provide first-class service for their customers.
The Secrets of Their Success
A key trait which Rachael and Peter both have that has played a big part in the region’s success is the dedication to go the extra mile for customers. Rachael holds herself to the highest standards and will be there for her customers whenever they need anything. No matter what they may need, she instils confidence in her customers that when they raise a question or concern, it will be resolved to their satisfaction. For Peter, he will go above and beyond to build strong relationships with customers. If they have a question, Peter will always give them an honest, direct answer (even if it is not the answer they thought they would get), and this creates a strong level of trust between the customer and Dawsongroup. This shared attitude has been an important driver towards Rachael and Peter’s region consistently being one of the best performing areas for the vans business unit.
In addition to this fantastic work ethic, teamwork has been an important contributor to the region’s success. At the start of every day, both Rachael and Peter check in with their team to make sure they have everything the need, and various training sessions are offered to their teams throughout the year to encourage knowledge sharing and personal progression. Both Peter and Rachael agree that being part of an amazing, supportive team is one of the best things about working at Dawsongroup.
“Someone is always there to support you no matter what is needed,” said Peter. “The LCV industry is a rollercoaster with a lot of up and downs, and I am very lucky to be in a company and a team where people are genuinely there to help you whenever you need it. We are all in the same boat and want to do what we can to achieve the same goal.”
During their time at Dawsongroup, Peter and Rachael have seen a lot of positive change across the business. In addition to embracing the latest technology to offer customers’ a continually improving service, new business units have opened – Dawsongroup process and climate control and Dawsongroup power solutions – which contribute to providing customers with more efficient supply chain links and sustainable solutions.
“With Dawsongroup, the customer gets more than just a van – it is a genuine partnership,” said Rachael. “I am a huge advocate for the service and benefits Dawsongroup’s Smarter Asset Strategy provides customers. Being part of Dawsongroup provides our customers with a fully rounded service which can go far beyond vans, helping create a strong level of loyalty and security for the customer.”
What Next?
Outside of work, Rachael’s two gorgeous golden retrievers, Willow and Lola, are her world and she loves taking them on long walks through the woods. In addition to being a massive car fanatic, Rachael is heavily involved in numerous charity activities throughout the year. From organising clothes collections and toy appeals, to taking part in a 24-hour ‘Spinathon’ for Cancer Research, Rachael supports her chosen charities in any way she can. For Peter, he loves to travel and has had some amazing holidays in beautiful counties, including the Dominican Republic, Mauritius and even Lapland where he went with his family to see the Northern Lights. When not on holiday, Peter is into his sport – he is an avid Nottingham Forest fan and has also played cricket at Trent Bridge!
Peter and Rachel both have ambitions of progressing within Dawsongroup even further, whether into new roles within vans or across the wider group. However, for the foreseeable future, both Peter and Rachael are committed to continuously improving their region’s performance. If you are interested in joining the Dawsongroup vans team, or any other part of Dawsongroup, check out our careers, or find out more about our Smarter Asset Strategy.
