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inside this issue: Elms Cambridge hailed for Modern RetailingFarms Open Day breaks all records n Jimmie and Wayne are riding high n Prince of Wales visit to BIOGEN Gwyriad

magazine. Rounding up what's happening across the Bedfordia Group.

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contentspg3 Oscar for Elms Stansted MINI

pg4 Open Farm Sunday 2013

pg6 Up Close and Personal with Stefan Marino

pg7 Jimmie and Wayne ride for GOSH

pg9 Alex Wright wins Corporate Sales Manager of the Year

pg10 Royal visit to BIOGEN’s first Welsh plant

Front cover picture - Fun on the farm see story on page 4.

Elms Stansted donated £10,000 to TBSHS Parents Sports Association and arranged for sign-written cars to be on display at key sporting events.

The annual Cricket Week is one of the highlights of TBSHS’s sporting year and the school is especially proud to have played the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), the world’s most famous cricket club and owner of Lord’s Cricket Ground. The MCC only plays matches against schools which it believes shares its sporting ethos and values so this was a great honour for Bishop’s Stortford High School.

MCC batted first, declaring on 210 for 3. The First XI fought hard to match their illustrious opponents, but scored 136 all out. George Kenny of TBSHS was named Man of the Match. Paul Walton, Elms Stansted Dealer Principal, said, “The annual Cricket Week is just one

area of the school’s sport that Elms is proud to support. We are sure that school sport at TBSHS will continue to go from strength to strength.”

Elms Stansted also sponsored TBSHS tennis team with the purchase of kits for 3 teams to cover the U13, U15 and U18 teams. The school tennis team made the national finals again this year, placing them in the top 16 schools in the country. *

Elms Stansted supports Bishop’s Stortford High School Cricket Week

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l –r Paul Walton, Dealer Principal Elms Stansted; Paul Noble, Headmaster TBSHS; John Ibbett, Chairman Bedfordia Group; Peter Harris, Head of PE TBSHS; Alex Wright, Group Corporate Sales Manager.

Elms Stansted is proud to have been part of The Bishop’s Stortford High School (TBSHS) Cricket Week as part of its on-going support for the school’s sporting activities.

For the second time in 3 years the Elms Stansted MINI team have won a prestigious MINI Oscar, MINI’s annual awards for its national dealer network. Elms Stansted MINI has been named ‘conquestador’, a title MINI credits to the dealer with the highest percentage of sales in its territory.

Sue Whitaker. MINI Brand Manager at Elms Stansted collected the award on behalf of the Elms Stansted MINI team at a ceremony in February.

Paul Walton, Dealer Principal at Elms Stansted, said: “It is wonderful for the group to be recognised in such a way by the manufacturer in front of the entire dealer network. And for the second time in 3 years! Congratulations to Sue, pictured above and her team.”*

Elms Stansted

MINI brings

home an Oscar

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news round-up

Bedfordia take part in Open Farm Sunday every second year as part of the UK-wide initiative sponsored by LEAF - Linking Environment and Farming –which is aimed at helping people make the link from their fridge to the farm.

A hardworking, dedicated, cheerful and enthusiastic team of 70 volunteers, mostly made up of Bedfordia group-wide

employees and their families from all four divisions and Head Office, was central to the day being hailed an outstanding success.

One of the most popular attractions on the day was the tractor and trailer rides with queues stretching right around the farmyard throughout the day. Visitors were given an on-board commentary and tour of Bedfordia's farmland, as well as a circuit around BIOGEN Twinwoods’ Anaerobic Digestion plant.

Other popular attractions included a 'British Bake-Off' style tea and cake marquee which was full to bursting all day with customers and cakes (yet more wonderful volunteers to thank!), a grain pit play area for the kids, a vast machinery and tractor display from our expert Farming team, a delicious hog roast and for the ‘aah! factor’, the ever popular sow and piglets. Children and adults alike learnt how Bedfordia Farms grows the

Bedfordia's Open Farm Sunday event broke all records this year with a staggering 2,500 visitors, more than double the attendance in 2011 when the event was last held. The event also broke all previous records for fundraising with an incredible £3,800 raised for charity.

Record Breaking Event for Bedfordia Farms

Just some of our incredible volunteers who helped make the day such a success.

brief n

ews

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Record Breaking Event for Bedfordia Farms

Our pigs were, as always, a very popular attraction.

wheat that makes their breakfast cereal, and the rapeseed that produces their cooking oil; meantime, many families took full advantage of the warm weather and picnicked next to the hay bales whilst watching their children careering headfirst and rolling down hills for seemingly hours on end!

John Ibbett, Chairman of Bedfordia Farms and Bedfordia Group said, "The day was a phenomenal success. Visitors had a great day out with their families, they've experienced first hand what life on a modern working farm is like, and we've also managed to raise a fantastic amount of money for local

charities. I am so proud of our team of volunteers, without whom none of this could have been possible, and to whom I am so grateful."

Charities who will benefit from the sale of refreshments and donations are: Macmillan Cancer, the Bedfordia Group’s nominated charity Care for the Family, Milton Ernest Youth Club, Milton Ernest Playing Fields Association and PTA's at Ursula Taylor Lower School in Clapham, Riseley Lower School and Newton Road Community Primary School in Rushden.*

BIOGEN has been awarded Recycling and Waste Management Business of the Year - SME at the 2013 National Recycling Awards.

At a glittering ceremony in London, judges praised BIOGEN, saying: “This is increasingly the ‘go to’ company for anaerobic digestion. BIOGEN is a pioneer and has been exemplar in returning digestate back to land with the science and technology behind it. It is also a great business story.”

Chief Executive Richard Barker said, “The award is a great testament to the commitment and efforts of each individual in the company. It makes me very proud to work for a company that is so respected in the AD industry.”

BIOGEN previously won the National Recycling Award in 2011.*

BIOGEN Win National Recycling Award

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up close and personal

withStefan Marino

MINI Retail Sales Manager

Stefan Marino, or Stef as he’s known to his colleagues, joined Bedfordia in 2001 as an apprentice technician based at Elms BMW Bedford. With a keen interest in cars and knowing that BMW offered excellent training opportunities, Stefan thought the role would be perfect for him and he hasn’t looked back since.

How has your career at Bedfordia progressed?Once I’d completed my apprenticeship I went on to train as a diagnostic technician and was in this role for the next 4 years. In 2008 when a vacancy arose for a MINI Sales Executive, I jumped at the opportunity. My dad said I should always have a trade to fall back on and I knew that becoming a qualified technician would tick that box, but that it could also be a stepping stone to other things and this has definitely been the case. The training from BMW along with the support from Bedfordia has really helped me develop, not only as a car mechanic but also as a person.

Tell us a bit about you role and your teamLast year I progressed to the role of MINI Retail Sales Manager and I now work with a fantasic team: Darren, Matt, Carly, Jade, Yasser and Becks. We work very well together, each of us with different strengths. We’ve used a variety of promotions to attract business, for example: competitions to win a MINI for the weekend, Art Car competitions where schoolchildren have the chance to design the artwork on a MINI and then placing the winning car at key local sporting fixtures. And so far, with the exception of one year, each sales executive has always successfully hit their individual target of selling 120 (new or used) cars per year.

What makes you get out of bed in the mornings? No two days are the same. I’m so passionate about MINI that what I do doesn’t feel like work a lot of the time.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?I’d like to make the step up to MINI Brand Manager. I’m not sure if my manager Simon Williams is aware of this!

How do you spend your time when you are not at work?I play tennis and football and work out at the gym several times a week. When I’m not playing sports I’m busy “doing up the house”, that is to say renovating my first house with my other half, Rebecca.

In an ideal world, what would your dream job be? I’d love to be working in F1, perhaps as a member of the pit crew.

TV choices: Top Gear or Apprentice?Top Gear, definitely.

Your Favourite Food? A tasty curry or a tasty salad? Salad for me, I try to eat healthily.

What’s your favourite summer tipple? Gin and tonic, ice and a slice!

Cat or dogs? I’d have to say dogs. We have a little French bulldog called Lola who is a real character and keeps us on our toes.

I’m so passionate about MINI and my job that it doesn’t feel like work most of the time!

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Long Service Award for Karen Pettit, Bedfordia Group Accounts Assistant

Jimmy and Wayne raise £2k riding from London to Paris for Great Ormond Street

Karen Pettit was rewarded for her 30 years of service to Bedfordia Group at a presentation in February this year. Karen joined Bedfordia’s Farms accounts department back in 1982 when wages were still counted in cash each week into little brown envelopes! Karen was presented with vouchers with which she was able to treat herself to some diamond stud earrings and a

Congratulations to Jimmie Newman and Wayne Mason, both based at Elms Cambridge, who completed a gruelling bike ride from London to Paris in April this year in aid of Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) raising a fantastic £2,172!The ride was inspired by Wayne’s son, Riely who at five months old was diagnosed with congenital heart disease requiring open heart surgery at Great Ormond Street Hospital. Wayne said,“While at GOSH, the care was extended to the whole family, not just Riely; we were given accommodation near the hospital

so we were never too far away from him. To say thank you to the hospital for their good work with Riely and many other patients we decided to attempt a sponsored bike ride from London to Paris. GOSH needs to raise £50m every year to just continue its work, with our help we can do our bit to help them maintain their fantastic services.”

The epic cycle ride took Jimmie and Wayne three days to complete, covering almost 300 miles from Great Ormond Street to the centre of Paris. “It’s one of the toughest challenges

news round-up

Mediterranean cruise which she shared with her husband Derek.

Karen says “When I first started working for Bedfordia, I never for a minute imagined I would still be here 30 years later! I also never expected at the beginning of the year that I would have diamonds and such a fantastic holiday, it was a lovely surprise and I feel very lucky and proud to have been given these gifts.”*

we’ve ever faced, but all the hard work was worth it to raise so much money” Wayne said. “The pain in our legs finally went away when we caught sight of the Eiffel Tower”!“We’re very grateful to our friends and colleagues, and would like to thank Elms Cambridge for covering our expenses. We’d also like to thank Bedfordia, Elms’ parent company, for sponsoring us £1 a mile.”

Everyone at Elms Cambridge and Bedfordia are very proud of Jimmie and Wayne’s achievement.*

l-r John Warner, Group Accountant, Karen Pettit, John Ibbett, Chairman Bedfordia Group

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news round-up

New AD plants BIOGEN is well on its way to achieving its goal of having 9 fully operational AD plants by 2017. The Gwyriad AD plant near Caernarfon, North Wales is now in its commissioning phase and is on track to be producing electricity by mid-September. Also at the Waen plant in Denbighshire, Norh Wales, ground is being levelled in preparation for the site foundations being laid.

Work is well underway at BIOGEN’S 45,000 tonne per year Bygrave AD plant in Hertfordshire. Work commenced on site in mid-June. Toureen Mangan, the main site contractors took advantage of the dry weather to push ahead with the bulk excavation works and drainage and concrete

works. The plant is expected to be completed in late 2014 and will produce enough electricity to power around 4,000 homes continually for a year; approximately the same number of households in nearby Baldock.

100,000 tonnes BIOGEN recently passed a significant milestone by signing contracts that will see it process over 100,000 tonnes of food waste in 2013. The year started with a record 9,500 tonnes of food waste alone being processed at the company’s two AD plants in Bedford and Rushden in the month of January. This beat the previous highest month in the company’s history by over 1,000 tonnes.

Key accounts have been secured this year including Midlands Co-operative Group and Marriot Hotel Group. A renewed contract with Central Beds Council was signed up through to 2016 meaning BIOGEN will have exclusively provided 8 years of continuous service to the local authority.

BIOGEN’s commercial team has also recently taken on two new field based Sales Executives to help secure more food waste for the new plants.*

Major BIOGEN ExpansionBIOGEN’s renewable energy business is growing apace with new anaerobic digestion (AD) plants being built across the UK and ever increasing amounts of food waste being processed to generate green electricity and a nitrogen rich fertiliser.

BIOGEN’s Management Executive Team carried out a “DIY SOS” style room makeover at St Francis’ Children’s Society in Milton Keynes this March. It was part of Biogen’s ongoing commitment to “give something back” to local communities.

St Francis Children’s Society provides lifetime services for adopting parents and as of March 2013 had successfully placed 33 children with new families..

The refurbished room was the “contact room” where potential adoptive parents, children available for adoption and natural birth parents hold regular sessions to interact. The room was transformed from a tired and drab room into a warm, friendly place for all the parents as well as a fun play room for the children.

Giving Something Back

Dominik Byrne, Fundraising Officer at St Francis said, “Everyone believes that the new environment will help lift the experience of our adopted children who have sessions in the room. We all really appreciate the effort you put into the day and the fantastic result - a massive thank you….”

Pictured above L-R are the SOS team: Graeme Vincent, Director of Operations; Andrew Needham, Commercial Director, Susan Hall; Executive PA; David Woolgar, Director of Engineering; John Carolin, Director of Business Development; Richard Barker, CEO; Nigel Sheppard, Director of Projects and Julian O’Neill, Finance Director.*

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Major BIOGEN Expansion

celebratingCongratulations to our colleagues below who have all had recent additions to their families:

Baby News! n Lee Cook, Technician at Elms Cambridge & partner Lorraine welcomed baby daughter Ellie on 31st August last year. Ellie weighed 9lb 6oz.

n Becky Healy MINI Sales Executive at Elms Bedford and husband Steve are proud parents of baby Isabella Ivy who was born at 4.03am on the 27th September weighing 8.5lbs

n Julie Arnold (receptionist Elms Bedford) and her husband Mark certainly didn’t need to ‘Call the Midwife’ as they delivered their baby boy Harley themselves on 17th September 2012. Harley weighed 8lb 3 oz. Congratulations to you both!

n And there was also no need for a midwife on 27th March this year when Rachel Greenhill,’s (Biogen Lab Co-ordinator) waters broke while still at work! Rachel and partner Steve Price, Westwood AD Plant Supervisor managed to get to hospital in time for baby girl, Freya to make her debut. Freya was a healthy 6lb 10oz.

n Congratulations to Bill Pridding, Service Manager at Elms Bedford and his wife Louise on the birth of their baby boy, Jacob John Pridding weighing 8lbs 6oz. Jacob was born on the 29th October 2012.

n Fiona Hewson (Database Coordinator, Elms Stansted) and husband Simon Hewson (Retail Sales Manager, Elms Stansted) had a healthy baby girl Hattie, at 5.54pm on Tues 4th December and weighing in at 8lb 3oz.

n Congratulations to Ashley Hilton, Assistant Parts Manager, Elms Bedford and his wife Joanne on the birth of their baby girl, Charlotte Harper Rose who was born on 31 January 2013 and weighed 6lb 12oz.

n Baby Alexander Petch arrived on Saturday 30th March, a first baby for Matt Petch, Financial Controller at Biogen and his wife Pat. Alexander weighed 6lb 9oz.

n Congratulations to Richard Bunting, Parts Advisor, Elms Bedford and his partner Michelle on the birth of their baby girl, Amelia Grace weighing 7lb 8oz. Amelia was born on the 6th March 2013.

n Congratulations to Wendy Hart-Wilson, HR Manager Bedfordia Automotive and her husband Simon on the birth of their baby boy, Sidney, weighing 8lb 9oz. Sidney was born on the 10th March 2013 and is la playmate for big brother Woody.

n Congratulations to Michael Swan, Apprentice Parts Advisor for Myltons and his partner Sarah Harris on the birth of their baby boy Calvin, weighing 9lb 8oz. Calvin was born on the 19th June 2013.

And finally…. n Congratulations to Julie Hawkey, Revenue Accountant at BIOGEN for passing her last exam in Management level of CIMA, she is now starting Strategic Level and to Anneke Street, Accounts Assistant for passing her first 2 exams in in Operational level of CIMA, she is now starting the last exam in Operational and the first exam in Management level.

Giving Something Back

Alex Wright, Group Corporate Sales Manager for the Elms Group was named BMW Corporate Sales Manager of the Year at a special BMW summer showcase event and conference this June.

Alex’s team were praised and Alex in particular was recognised for being a fantastic team leader who gets involved at all levels and for having a great approach to prospecting and commitment to his customers. A big well done to Elms Corporate!*

Alex Wright named as Corporate Sales Manager of the Year

Elms BMW Cambridge was recently hailed as a great example of Modern Retailing by those who know best – BMW themselves. Steve Penman, Dealer Principal at Elms Cambridge received an invite to speak to over 300 staff in June at the BMW National Staff Conference in Wentworth on the subject of ‘Modern Retailing’, BMW’s new approach to Automotive sales, something which Elms Cambridge have embraced wholeheartedly through the building of the new showroom in Cambourne. BMW’s ‘Modern Retailing’ is all about immersing the customer in the BMW and MINI brand. While the traditional sales process is still followed, a more transparent and relaxed atmosphere has been created within the Elms Cambridge showrooms. Gone are the rows of desks, sales offices and racks of literature. Instead customers entering the BMW showroom are met with an open, chic and stylish environment complete with large tv screens, comfy leather sofas and a coffee bar while MINI customers have

Elms Cambridge Leads the Way in Retailing

a similar experience including the opportunity to play computer games within the fun, funky MINI showroom. One customer enjoyed the atmosphere in the MINI showroom so much, they said they could happily spend the entire afternoon there!

Another innovative step has been employing a ‘Product Genius’ in the form of Aidan Smith. Aidan is, by his own admission, a complete BMW geek and his role is to help customers get to grips with all aspects of product technology with special emphasis on the gizmos and gadgets loved by BMW drivers.

Steve explained to the audience how the combination of ‘Modern Retailing’ and the employment of a ‘Product Genius’ has helped the business go from strength to strength.

Following the UK conference, Steve was asked to speak at a second event in Munich at BMW Central HQ. This time Steve was interviewed by Dr Ian Robertson, Global Sales and Marketing Director for BMW – not quite Graham Norton or Jonathan Ross, but very important all the same!

And to top it all, Steve was also recently voted one of 5 UK finalists in the global ‘BMW Dealer Manager of the Year’ awards.*

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news round-up

His Royal Highness was given a guided tour of the facility by Chairman John Ibbett while other members of the BIOGEN team had opportunity to explain the various processes, BIOGEN’s work with the farming community and it’s work in the area of research and development. The plant is Wales’ first full-scale Anaerobic Digestion plant and will process 11,500 tonnes of household food waste into renewable energy every year, which would otherwise go to landfill.

The BIOGEN GwyriAD plant, as it is known, at Llwyn Isaf near Caernarfon, is the first of three plants to be built in Wales by BIOGEN.

Richard Barker, Chief Executive of BIOGEN, said, “We are delighted that His Royal Highness took the time to take a private tour of the plant. He was particularly interested in how advanced control technologies allow AD plants, such as the GwyriAD plant to be run remotely using i-pads. In fact he joked that he would like to be able to press the button to get the plant started – using his mobile phone – watch this space!”

The GwyriAD plant will generate enough electricity from the processed food waste to power 700 houses continually each year, and produce enough nitrogen rich fertilizer to grow 1800 tonnes of crop.*

His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales visits BIOGEN’s latest food waste recycling plant in North Wales in July.

Prince of Wales visits BIOGEN’s first Welsh AD plant

Andrew Needham, Commercial Director explains the output of the engines which produce electricity at the Gwyriad plant.

BIOGEN Chairman John Ibbett with His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales.

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Above: David Eynon, Gwyriad Plant Manager and Dave Herbert and Les Mitchell, plant engineers, show His Royal Highness an example of ‘contamination’ sometimes received with food waste deliveries.Left: David Woolgar, Director of Engineering (with back to camera) and Julian Stemasiak, Design & Commissioning Manager share a joke with His Royal Highness.Below: Becky Arnold, Research manager tells His Royal Highness about the work being carried out by BIOGEN’s R&D team.

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new faces new places

n Elms BedfordDecember 2012Salvatore Santoro, Service Advisor, Karl Haxton, Trainee Sales Executive Fiona Stewart, Retail Sales Manager

January 2013Darren Lougheed, Service AdvisorSimon Williams MINI Brand ManagerKimberley Sinclair, Aftersales Contact Centre SupervisorBeverley Fitzpatrick, HR Manager (Automotive)

March 2013Jade Simmonds MINI Sales Executive

April 2013Christopher Johnson, Bodyshop Vehicle Sales Preparation Technician

May 2013Kimberley Cullis, ReceptionistLeanne Storrie, ReceptionistCarole Brandill, Aftersales Contact Centre AdvisorNicholas Hutton, BMW Sales ExecutiveChristopher Pogson, BMW Retail Sales ManagerAngela Ames, Aftersales Contact Centre Advisor

June 2013Kerri Jaworsky, Sales AdministratorSam Lawson, BMW Sales ExecutiveRobert Neale, BMW Sales ExecutiveDon Sena, BMW Sales Executive

July 2013Gavin Ellis, BMW Retail Sales Manager

n Elms CambridgeSeptember 2012Gary Warner, Service Driver

October 2012Gavin Shockledge, Warranty AdministratorNicholas Jones, BMW Sales ExecutiveSarah Moore, Service Advisor

November 2012Charles Oakman, BMW Sales ExecutiveClare Cohen, MINI Weekend Host

James Peacock, MINI Sales Executive James Sly, BMW Senior Technician

December 2012Thomas Ash, BMW Genius,

January 2013Bethany Abbott, Sales AdministratorWilliam Hitchcock, BMW Sales ExecutiveDeborah Day, Service Administrator

February 2013Neil Goldring, Sales DriverStephen Bushnell, BMW Sales ExecutiveReecca Mead, Retail Sales Manager

April 2013Allan Jones, Service Advisor

June 2013Alan Montague, Parts DriverDavid Gilbey, Parts AdvisorWayne Fisher, BMW Sales Executive

July 2013Paul Smitham, BMW Sales ExecutiveNicholas Bodkin, MINI Sales Executive

n Elms StanstedOctober 2012David Read, DriverRyan Smith, Retail Sales ManagerRebecca Hatchard, Sales Administrator

November 2012Jeffrey Murdoch, Technician

February 2013Victor Rickman, Panel BeaterLewis Monk, MINI Sales ExecutiveChristopher Tippett, MINI Sales Executive

March 2013Robert Hawkins, MINI Sales ExecutiveJamie Heath Receptionist,Denys Organ, Workshop Technician

April 2013Claire Pease-Watkin, Receptionist

June 2013Joseph Cayford, Online Customer Service Advisor

n MyltonsSeptember 2012Jasmine Saunders, Apprentice Aftersales Receptionist

April 2013Michael Swan, Parts Apprentice

July 2013Thomas Howell, Used Car Sales Executive

n Bedfordia FarmsJune 2013Harry Pitcher, Farm Management Trainee

n BIOGENSeptember 2012David Horne, HSQ Manager

October 2012Elaine Cole, Office and Research Administrator Andrew Halliday, Project Manager

November 2012Paul Taylor-Braddick, Mechanical CAD DraughtspersonMark Padbury, Maintenance and Operations Technician, Twinwoods

January 2013Lee Smith, ElectricianKevin Hughes, Electrician

March 2013Stuart Warrilow, Senior Quantity SurveyorMelanie Law, Commercial Sales Executive, Field Based

March 2013Fiona Morris, Laboratory Co-ordinator

April 2013Louise Walker, Research AssistantLiam O’Kane, Project EngineerKeith Knight, Design ManagerSteven Yates, CAD DraughtspersonAndrew Abbott, Operations EngineerDavid Eynon, Site Manager, GwyriadDavid Herbert, Plant Engineer, GwyriadLes Mitchell, Plant Engineer, Gwyriad

June 2013John Bole, Project ManagerKim Waring, Operations AdministratorGraeme Outridge, Environment Officer

July 2013Hayley Keaney, Commercial Sales Executive, Field Based