Heras names new Business Development Manager

Janet Shelley MBE has been appointed as the Business Development Manager (BDM) for the servicing and maintenance department of Heras, the UK’s permanent perimeter protection solutions arm.

Heras’ development

In her role covering the south of the UK, Shelley will focus on engaging owners and landlords of public spaces, manufacturing plants, engineering sites, sports stadia and distribution hubs, urging them to prioritise regular servicing of their access control systems, including gates and barriers.

Her objective is to emphasise the significance of routine servicing and maintenance in meeting regulatory requirements and standards, such as the mandatory European NEN-EN 13241-1 standard and the Machinery Directive.

Additionally, Shelley aims to highlight the importance of minimising downtime on sites by addressing faults or malfunctions promptly.

“A simple prevention is better than cure”

Shelley commented: “Servicing and maintenance of elements of perimeter protection systems – such as turnstiles and bollards – are often overlooked at the point of purchase because of the assumption that they will last for years before they break down.

“But we always use the analogy of buying a brand-new car and driving it for years without servicing it.

“Yes, it will go for miles and miles, but at some point it will break down – and that will probably prove very costly.

“It’s a simple prevention is better than cure message to point out that if a sliding gate, swing gate or bi-fold gate.

“For example, stops working, an entire site’s operations can quickly come to a grinding halt because people can’t enter or leave the site.

“And for logistics hubs, as an example, this could be disastrous, as such sites have to run like clockwork.”

Shelley, who received her MBE for services to the construction industry after founding a company that provided training and skills pathways for women into the building industry, is keen to point out that Heras doesn’t just cover its own products: As an industry leader, it can also provide servicing and maintenance solutions for other systems.

Following closely behind, the appointment of Janet Shelley MBE coincides with the recent addition of Jacqui Walker and Phil Lafone, who have joined Heras as Key Account Managers for the Doncaster-based company.

Heras stands as Europe’s premier end-to-end supplier of permanent and mobile perimeter protection solutions.

“The right blend of people in our team”

Commenting on the array of recent appointments, David Owen, Managing Director for the UK, Heras expressed that the company now boasts a well-equipped team poised to assist in its growth plans.

Owen stated: “Heras has been very proactive in putting the right building blocks in place as part of our plan for growth in a challenging marketplace.

“Having the right blend of people in our team is essential and Janet, Jacqui and Phil have all hit the ground running and added a new dynamic to our UK team.

“And progress is on track constructing our new €10M state-of-the-art manufacturing facility at our head office in the Netherlands – which will initially produce sliding, swing and bi-fold gates that will be bound for the UK market as early as autumn this year.”