David Bolam
Highly experienced operations and customer-focused professional with over 20 years' experience
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About
Highly experienced operations and customer-focused with over 20 years' experience coordinating orders, managing suppliers, controlling costs, quality control, stock control and ensuring timely, compliant despatch of goods across the UK. Strong background in export documentation, customer communication, ERP systems, and cost optimisation, gained within fast-paced commercial environments supporting engineering, facilities, and office infrastructure clients. Known for a calm, organised approach, excellent customer communication, and a strong track record of improving service levels while reducing operational costs.
Experience
Office Manager – North East - Office Bridge HQ
(2021-07)
Provide frontline operational support for a diverse customer base, ensuring orders are processed, despatched, and delivered accurately and on time.
- Coordinate daily despatch activities with suppliers, couriers, and freight partners, ensuring customer delivery requirements are met.
- Prepare and check commercial documentation including invoices, delivery paperwork, and customer-specific requirements to ensure compliance.
- Liaise directly with customers, suppliers, and logistics partners via telephone and email, providing accurate information at first point of contact. Regular visits to both Suppliers and Customers to maximise relationship.
- Monitor supplier courier costs, sourcing competitive quotes and consolidating orders where possible to reduce overall shipping spend.
- Use Office Software and App systems to track orders, stock, delivery schedules, and customer queries efficiently.
- Support continuous improvement by identifying process inefficiencies and improving communication between sales, operations, and despatch.
- Reduced courier and freight costs through supplier review and order consolidation
- Improved customer satisfaction through faster response times and clearer despatch communication
Managing Director - Grace Office Supplies Ltd
(2005-01 - 2021-12)
Led end-to-end order fulfilment operations, including purchasing, logistics, invoicing, and customer service across UK-wide supply chains.
- Managed relationships with suppliers and distributors, ensuring goods were shipped in line with agreed lead times and documentation standards.
- Oversaw preparation of invoices and supporting documentation to meet customer and contractual requirements.
- Maintained close working relationships with freight forwarders, couriers, and service providers to stay aligned with current shipping practices and regulations.
- Controlled logistics budgets, regularly reviewing freight rates to ensure competitiveness.
- Handled returns, credits, and exceptions efficiently to minimise disruption to customers.
Apprentice Sheet Metal Worker / Welder / Production Manager - Symtol Engineering
(1984-01 - 2005-12)
Apprentice Sheet Metal Worker / Welder.
Production
Manager – Responsible for Planning/ coordinating/ manufacturing / staff / preventative maintenance on machinery / health and safety/ meet budgets and delivery. Gained strong grounding in engineering-led operational environments, working closely with production schedules and delivery deadlines. Developed an understanding of manufacturing workflows, planning, and the importance of on-time, compliant delivery to customers. Built long-term experience working under pressure to meet operational and customer commitments.
- NEBOSH Health & Safety
- D32/34 Assessor (candidate performance)
- Promis Production Control Software
- Preventative Maintenance on machinery to minimise downtime
- Stores / Quality Control
