A day after Lee’s thirtieth birthday, he was gifted the role of van technician at Collard! Eight years later, he’s rapidly progressed to Transport Manager and has dedicated himself to learning throughout.
Over those eight years, Lee’s been a late-shift supervisor, earned his Transport Manager Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC), meaning he’s a named Transport Manager on Collard’s operator licence, has been on management and leadership development programmes, and today oversees maintenance, ensuring compliance for a fleet of 300+ vehicles, managing a team of 18 people.
While Lee’s team will proactively and regularly maintain the fleet, the environment can be highly reactive. Given the arduous conditions these vehicles operate in, unplanned maintenance and vehicle breakdowns are common. As a result, mobile technicians will need to be deployed to respond to breakdowns as they occur.
Lee explains, “It’s my job to ensure the fleet and its drivers are safe, legal, and roadworthy, which in turn keeps the public safe too.”
A business that’s growing arms and legs
Before joining Collard, Lee spent over 14 years as a vehicle technician at a Mercedes-Benz dealer, but was ready for a change.
Lee adds, “While I gained valuable experience at the dealership, I was craving autonomy and variety. Collard has delivered both in bucketloads!”
Lee describes Collard as a business that’s growing arms and legs, with plenty of opportunities if you want them.
He says, “When I first approached Collard, I said I wanted a career, not just a job. And that’s what they’ve given me: training, accreditations, new opportunities, and so much more. They have provided the career stepping stones to reach my goals.”
Learning to be a leader
Lee’s had to learn to transition from a technical role, on the tools doing the work, to a managerial role, leading people, and he admits it’s been a learning curve.
He explains, “Know your audience! That’s what I’ve learnt about people management. No two people are the same, and you have to treat everyone as an individual.
“Following the development programmes I’ve been on, I’ve learnt to adapt my approach, both in and out of the workplace. The courses have given me the tools to handle the various situations I encounter on a day-to-day basis.”
Lee’s also highly passionate about developing apprentices and has helped design an apprenticeship programme in partnership with local colleges, and is pleased to boast a 100% retention rate.
He says, “I’m proud to say I’ve had five successful apprentice technicians complete their HGV apprenticeship programme.
“We’re also very fortunate that Volvo UK now trains our apprentices and that our technicians attend all of Volvo UK’s technical training courses.
“As an independent fleet operator, being given these opportunities really shows what a fantastic job we’re doing, which is a huge credit to the whole team. We have great people here, and I’m incredibly proud to be a part of the team.”
“When I first approached Collard, I said I wanted a career, not just a job. And that’s what they’ve given me”
Lee on working at Collard
Qualities suited to Collard
When asked what qualities are needed to flourish at Collard, Lee’s answer is simple: you need a can-do attitude, a willingness to listen to advice and learn, the ability to be a team player, and a commitment to working hard and giving it your all.
Lee’s 2025 highlights
Reflecting on 2025, one of Lee’s key achievements was digitising fleet data. The software Collard now uses consolidates information such as vehicle safety check dates, repair and maintenance records, and workshop inspections into a single electronic platform. It enables Lee and his team to plan service needs and monitor each vehicle’s compliance status.
Lee adds, “Following the implementation of this software, we were featured in various motor trade magazines.
“We’re also using the latest in Artificial Intelligence tracking and camera tools to help us be more efficient.”
The future
Transport for Lee is changing rapidly, driven by new technology and the rise of electric vehicles, which Collard is currently trialling.
He says, “Change is a constant. That’s why I prefer the term ‘technicians’ to ‘fitters’ when referring to the skilled mechanics who repair and maintain our fleet.
“I call them technicians because they’re highly skilled professionals who, day in, day out, diagnose and solve complex problems using constantly evolving technology on vehicles that are far more sophisticated than they used to be. The world is moving on, and we’re staying ahead of the game.”
But one thing that likely won’t change is Lee’s devotion to Collard, appetite for continued learning and progress, and readiness to take on even bigger leadership roles as and when they arise.
