Stuart Edwards

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

ABOUT STUART EDWARDS

After completing my Business Studies & Marketing Degree. I worked in the banking sector for a couple of years as a Mortgage Advisor for the Norwich & Peterborough Building Society. After a couple of years I started to apply for Graduate Schemes. I joined Sainsbury\'s Graduate Scheme, after successfully competing the scheme, I worked in various Managerial roles for 6 years including Customer Service Manager and Fresh Foods Manager in a number of Stores over a six year period. This time taught me a lot about leadership, how to manage, motivate teams, develop people in their careers and build sustainable business strategies. In 2003 I left Sainsbury\'s to broaden my Retail Skill set and work for a company I\'d always been inspired by M&S. Completing a wide range of jobs, including opening my first Store as a Store Manager. Working in clothing for 3 years as a Commercial Manager learning to Retail both foods and clothing. Taking the Norwich Store through an expansive development over an 18 month period.After this I felt ready to complete my dream job in a Large Store Manager role, running the Colchester Store which ran over sq ft with annual sales of over £20 million and employing over 200 staff. After a very successful year as the top performing store across the Region I was promoted to a larger Store with annual sales of £30 million. Again maintaining the same success in Chelmsford as the best performing Store across the Region across its Key Performance Indicators.My latest role as a Food & Hospitality Trading role has allowed me achieve a business broadening role. Supporting the Food Group for M&S and Head of Region manage the food business across the East Anglia Region, sales with £180 million. The role is a very interesting and exciting role, formulating strategies, influencing the food business for new ways of working, training and developing Managers and as well as looking to achieve KPI\'s to run a profitable business.