Shawston International Limited
Rob Davenport
Position
Executive Chairman
Growing up in the Manchester area and having what can only be described as a very eventful introduction to the world of work aged 16 whilst working at his local petrol station, Rob developed an early appetite for business and entrepreneurship. After completing 12-years working for 2 large PLC’s at Director level, he wanted ‘out’ of corporate life and chose to risk it all; beg, borrow and steal to fund a small management buy-in of a rather scruffy, Manchester based distribution business with sales of £750k p.a. and 10 employees. Today, 20-years on, scruffy has turned to more polished; Shawston now operate from 5 depots, sales are approaching £25 million p.a. and the business has 120 co-owner employees.
Rob’s flair for business combined with his entrepreneurial vision has enabled him to adapt his inclusive and honest approach to both relationships and decision-making, this has certainly been advantageous for both his business and personal success. It is also a philosophy quite visible in his move to make Shawston a fully employee owned business, having implemented a (minority) direct share ownership model in 2015.
In recent years, and on the back of some incredibly challenging but successful cultural changes within Shawston, Rob has contributed to the Government’s Dividend Report led by Baroness Sharon Bowles and has been a speaker at the Employee Ownership Association’s annual conference.
Married to Michelle with 2 children, Rob is a keen cyclist and an avid Manchester United fan. He is a big fan of the Manchester music scene and has quite an extensive record collection, The Smiths being a big favourite. Rob has recently taken up kite surfing and can often be found in Anglesey putting his newly learnt skills to the test.
Rob’s mission is to create a “forever Shawston” A business with a thriving employee ownership culture, a young and dynamic leadership team that is the envy of the competition and a strong balance sheet. The future for Shawston looks long and bright!
Graham Wilkins
Position
Non-Exec Commercial Director
Before joining Shawston, Graham worked for 17-years at a large PLC. Following an acquisition by a global conglomerate, Graham became the Sales and Operations Director, accountable for all sales in the South of England, which included responsibility for 3 branches with a combined turnover of £25m.
After a successful 17-years working at the PLC Graham decided to take the plunge - go it alone - and in 2003 substantially invested in Shawston International Ltd. Graham became the first major investment partner to the original founder. Today, Graham is an experienced business owner and has contributed to the growth at Shawston from a turnover of £750k to £20m. That’s some story!
As the Non-Executive Commercial Director, Graham is responsible for planning, developing, and implementing the commercial strategies that reflect the objective and priorities of the Shawston Group. Maximising opportunities for profit, generating revenue and creating sustainable growth are amongst some of his key responsibilities continuing on the journey to build a forever Shawston.
Married to Angela, Graham is a keen table tennis player; he regularly plays for the local “A-team”. He also enjoys most competitive sports playing and watching alike. An avid follower of “The Mighty Yellows” Oxford United since a child, Graham has instilled this love and commitment into his 3 sons and is often seen dragging them along to various local grounds at the weekend!
Deb Oxley OBE DL
Position
As previous CEO of the Employee Ownership Association, Deb led the campaign with national and regional government, business groups and the media to increase the profile and impact of employee ownership in the UK economy.
An influential and passionate advocate, Deb represented the UK EO sector with business groups including the CBI, FSB and ICAEW, influencing their understanding and engagement with the campaign. Deb initiated a new partnership to grow EO in the English regions, this was pivotal in shaping an EO focused industry leadership group in Scotland and was regularly a member of academic gatherings to assess the future opportunities for EO as part of a more inclusive, compassionate economy.
Deb regularly advocated for EO at national and international events and in the mainstream media. As an experienced leader, Deb recruited a strong team and board to lead and deliver the EOA’s strategy, resulting in a 150% increase in the size of the EO sector.
Since stepping down from the EOA after almost 10 years in 2022, Deb has founded Oxley Works, a specialist consultancy working with employee owned and purpose driven enterprises. Awarded an OBE in 2019 and Deputy Lieutenant of the East Riding of Yorkshire, Deb’s achievements in business and contribution to society has been an inspiration to us all.
Paul Trickett
Position
A graduate from Birmingham University with a degree in Economics, Paul gradually climbed the career ladder working for Arthur Anderson, and for the last 17-years has operated as Merger & Acquisition Partner at Deloitte, specialising in building products.
Over the last three decades, Paul has gathered huge knowledge and expertise in all aspects of the market including distributors, contractors, and material suppliers.
Paul is incredibly well regarded within the Building Products community. Working with Shawston on various M&A projects since 2007, he is a familiar face to the business.
Paul brings with him a wealth of experience and strategic expertise, alongside an ability to push boundaries, encourage and develop strategic thinking amongst the Shawson Executive Team. Passionate about creating shareholder value for the benefit of all, Paul is an integral part of the Shawston Group.
Tom Rigby
Position
After studying at Lancaster University in 2007 and gaining a 1st Class degree in Accounting and Finance, Tom moved to a national accounting practice to gain his ACA qualification with the ICAEW.
After spending time as an Audit Manager for a varied portfolio of SME and owner managed businesses, Tom decided the time was right to move into industry. Tom has worked with several high profile and successful North West based SME’s, the most recent company where Tom worked for 5-years, had an inclusive culture, and ignited the foundations of employee passion.
Having successfully supported his old company to grow by over £150m in sales and navigate 2 rounds of private equity investment, Tom’s move to Shawston was a natural decision where the culture is totally aligned to Tom’s career and personal values, with an opportunity to participate in an equity ownership scheme.
Tom became an equity participating member of the Shawston Senior Leadership Team in May 2020.
Tom is a father of 3 young girls with wife Anna. A keen sportsman who enjoys golf, cycling and football he is always keen to be in the great outdoors with the family and enjoy time together. Tom also sits on the committee of the North West Society of Chartered Accountants.
James Collins
Position
Group Sales Director
James joined the Shawston Graduate Training scheme in 2012 after graduating from MMU with a BA (Hons) in Finance and Accountancy. Throughout his college and university years, James worked at our in-house tube fabrication unit, Shawston Steel Tube, in Salford.
His early career included several roles within the Shawston Finance department, including Group Financial Controller. Today James is the Group Sales Director and is an equity participating member of Shawston’s Senior Leadership team.
After a challenging 3-years, James recently completed a Shawston sponsored MBA at Manchester Metropolitan Business School. Graduating with a merit clearly demonstrates James’ ability to think calmly and logically in a business environment. James’s dissertation was based on employee ownership, so both James and Shawston secured real value from this amazing scope of work.
An unbelievably quick learner and mature beyond his years, James sets the tone when it comes to combining serious academic qualities with work ethic, a can-do attitude and humbleness – an all-potent cocktail for business success.
Engaged to Laura and father to a young son he still manages to find time to play golf at his local club and is an active member of the gym. As a diehard Mancunian, James follows his beloved Manchester United home and away and is looking forward to bringing his son to a match soon.
Mark Dyer
Position
Group Supply Chain Director
Following an 8-year career in the travel sector, Mark moved on to his first sales role with a local steel stockholder. Having fulfilled his ambition to become a senior internal sales executive, Mark decided to branch out and joined Shawston in 2004 as a key member of the management team. He wanted to be part of a small owner-managed business. Mark purchased some equity and became one of the core ‘founder members’ of what is today a thriving £30 million business.
Throughout his time at Shawston, Mark has been heavily involved in the company’s expansion plans and was instrumental in the sourcing, setting up and opening of both the Birmingham and Glasgow branches as well as the acquisition of Tipton Jones in 2010. Mark was also responsible for setting up several global supply chains and to this day still oversees the complex and unique import division.
The initiator of a Central Purchasing team, of which he became a vital member, Mark’s skills and achievements saw him progress to Operations Director. During this time, Shawston enjoyed explosive growth and Mark was instrumental in ensuring Shawston’s unrivalled customer service never faltered, and the global supply chains kept pace with Shawston demand.
As the business continued to expand and change culturally by moving to a fully employee-owned model, Mark started to focus more on purchasing and market management. Now the Group Supply Chain Director and a substantial equity participating member of the Shawston Senior Leadership Team. Mark’s personal ethos and intrinsic values have clearly helped to create the business that Shawston is today.
Married to Amanda, with 2 daughters, Mark is a lifelong Liverpool fan. He love to cycle, either out on the road or on the turbo trainer. Mark often hits the road for a 40-mile round trip. His encyclopaedic knowledge of sport and music makes Mark a formidable quiz master or opponent, so you have been warned!
Gareth Thomason
Position
Operations Director
On leaving University Gareth joined a large national building distribution company as a graduate trainee on their management training scheme. After spending time in all sections of the business Gareth gained insight on creating and maintaining a successful company.
Moving up the career ladder Gareth was soon promoted and over 20 years progressed through the ranks to Regional Sales Director and then Regional Operations Manager for the Southeast, responsible for 12 depots with a regional turnover of £160m. Throughout that time, Gareth helped the business achieve 40% above budget performance alongside shaping the company to uphold future growth opportunities.
Spending time in both sales and operational roles allowed Gareth to help to establish a sales culture within the company coupled with operational excellence.
Looking for a new adventure, Gareth decided to join the Shawston team as Operations Director. His desire to join to a business passionate about people and their development was key and he became an equity participating member of the Shawston Senior Leadership Team in January 2023.
Gareth’s role is to improve business efficiencies, enhance Shawston’s sustainability programme and build on our unrivalled customer service platform, whilst looking at business growth opportunities and supporting the EO journey.
Father to 2 children, Gray and Olive and married to Kelly, Gareth loves to spend time with his family. His passion for cricket has seen him captain Met Police Bushey CC for 10 successful years and he proudly ended his playing career with a tournament on the home of cricket, Lords.
Passing his passion down through the generations, he often faces his son Gray in the back garden and coaches at his local village club Southill, where both his children are playing members.
Shaun Imrie
Position
Group Compliance Director
Shaun started his career in the military, serving with the Royal Engineers and qualifying as a Technical Engineer, Shaun’s role included providing support to redeveloping 3rd world countries during peacekeeping operations.
Shaun made the transition into civilian life, working for several of the UK’s leading principal contractors including Costain and Balfour Beatty, where he was the Head of HSE for the North and Midlands.
After 8-years directing a consultancy business servicing multiple market sectors, Shaun was invited to join Shawston to head up the health, safety, and quality division and to provide support to business operations. His current role as Group Compliance Director, includes ensuring Shawston continue to lead the way in all aspects of safety and compliance across the Shawston group.
Shaun has used his background and experience in safety as a mechanism to harness operational success. Shaun is skilled at bringing strategy and concepts to life, alongside showing keen leadership skills. He is also an equity participating member of the Senior Leadership Team.
Married to his wife Julie and father to Vivienne, Shaun is a seasoned traveller with a passion for the Americas. He is also a very amateur golfer with an embarrassing handicap which he did not consent to being disclosed!
Steve Thorpe
Position
Key Account Director (Mechanical)
Steve has come a long way from his early career playing football for the Sheffield Wednesday reserve team. His life as a semi-professional player in his early 20’s ended and was quickly replaced by a corporate career in early 2000.
After 10-years within an SME environment, Steve joined a large PLC with over 60 branches nationwide. Steve rapidly progressed in the business and became a Regional Product Manager covering 10 branches in the London region.
In 2012 Steve joined Shawston as a Key Account Manager. Initially his role was very sales focused, introducing several product ranges to the business. Steve has been instrumental in growing Shawston market share in the London area. Steve’s Shawston CV boasts impressive sales growth, year-in, year-out, whilst managing and leading a customer service team.
Today, Steve is the Key Account Director for Mechanical Services with exciting plans to replicate the London success in Northern England, as well as helping to continue growth in the London/Southern region. He is also an equity participating member of Shawston’s senior leadership team.
It is not all work, in his spare time Steve enjoys spending time with friends and his 2 children. He leads an active lifestyle with daily runs over 5k and still enjoys playing VETS football for Colden Common FC.
Vicky Thorp
Position
Since graduating from Leeds University, Vicky has spent time working in both corporate and SME environments. More recently this included similar ‘entrepreneurial owner led’ businesses including Missguided and The Fragrance Shop. It was in these roles she gained strong experience working within businesses who have similarly ambitious growth aspirations to Shawston.
Vicky has a huge amount of knowledge and expertise in supporting businesses through growth and has brought this additional value to our Senior Leadership Team since her arrival at the company.
Outside of work Vicky is Mum to two young children and is married to her partner Matt. In her teens Vicky was a county level swimmer representing the North of England, however these days she enjoys family walks and pub lunches, as well as going to the gym and watching her eldest playing football.
Emma Swain
Position
Emma joined the Shawston team with a strong background in both Human Resources and People & Culture, her most recent role was working at Cosmarida Ltd where her role involved developing people strategies, implementing wellbeing programmes, and growing internal talent through apprenticeships and training.
As Head of People & Culture for the Shawston Group, Emma is an essential part of the Operational Executive Team which is responsible for the day-to-day running of all parts of Shawston. Her degree gained in Business and HR at Leeds Metropolitan University provided a springboard to venture further into people, work environments and their culture.
Our approach to ‘People & Culture’ is hugely important to Shawston. Delivering ‘unrivalled levels of customer service’ to our customers day-in day-out is built on the foundations of having an amazing culture with brilliant people. Emma’s role is to support the roll out of our People First strategy across our entire business and look at ways of how we can further develop our approach to People and Culture.
Emma is married to Dan, Mum to Arlo and a “no-eyed” Springer Spaniel. Mad about house interior design, Emma also enjoys spending time outdoors and is a huge fan of live music and terrible TV.