Meet the Team: Carl Benfield, Sales & Marketing Manager

Meet Carl Benfield, Sales & Marketing Manager. He’s worked for HSM for nearly 30 years and is invested in helping the company thrive. Outside of work Carl is a keen cyclist, out on rides almost every day and a long-standing member of Portsmouth Northend Cycling Club. The Benfields are a family of music lovers, attending gigs and festivals when they can - Victorious is a firm favourite. Cooking and wine is another passion!

What does your role involve?

I’ve worked at HSM for nearly 30 years. I joined as a trainee and developed an interest in all the processes on the shop floor, working in every area. The welding and fabrication side of the business held the greatest enjoyment for me, and I was soon fully qualified. Over the years I was promoted to shop floor supervisor then production manager before finally progressing into the sales office. I took on the role as Sales & Marketing Manager and I’m proud of my team and our success to date.

What is your career background prior to HSM?

In my early career I followed my love of food and drink and trained as a chef. I gained my full C&G / NVQ Qualifications along with membership to the Royal Society of Health. I worked at several locations in Portsmouth before deciding on a new career path and joining HSM.

What are the most rewarding and challenging parts of your role?

I love finding and building new customer relationships. Customer visits and exhibitions are great as they provide opportunities to strengthen our partnerships and forge new ones. We have fantastic customers and making sure they are happy is extremely important to the team. The most challenging part of my role can sometimes be finding the perfect fit for the customer solution-wise, but we always get there in the end. Managing lead times and expectations can also have its challenges, but we prioritise customer service above all else to ensure a positive outcome for all.

What are your aims for the coming year?

We're excited for the year ahead. Our goal is to grow the business and improve on a fantastic 2024. We are constantly looking at innovations and improvements for HSM and the team and we already have four exhibitions booked. We also sponsor Sheet Metal Industries Golf Challenge, which takes place in September and is a great day.

We’ve entered the Portsmouth Business Awards for the first time this year and we’ll also be attending the MMMA Gala Dinner and Awards towards the end of the year.

What support / development opportunities have you received since joining?

In my time at HSM, training has been continuously offered. I gained my qualifications in fabrication and welding early on, and I attend regular sessions with Action Coach, which helps with our business planning.

Why should people use HSM's services above others? 

We take pride in what we do and manufacture almost everything on-site, showcasing our fantastic range of capabilities. We believe that being the customer’s one stop shop cuts down on waste is more efficient and better for the environment.

Why is HSM a great place to work?

HSM is a great workplace; we have excellent staff retention and endeavour to always foster a great team environment. The people at HSM really make it, and the variety of projects we are fortunate to undertake provides variety. Staff are always encouraged to make suggestions and there’s never any fear of conflict. HSM constantly looks to invest in new equipment as well as its people, which results in a positive culture for all.

Meet some of our other team members and discover the services we offer…

 

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