Meet Garath, Business Development Manager at Stadium Export Services

Garath joined Stadium Export Services as our Business Development Manager at the end of 2024. After completing his first six months with the business, we caught up with him to find out how he’s been settling in.

Tell us about your role:

My primary role as Business Development Manager is to help expand the markets that Stadium serves. It’s very much a team effort here, so I find myself involved in a wide range of tasks depending on what’s needed.

Can you tell us a bit about your background?

When I left school I started my career as a Carpenter, but after completing my apprenticeship I joined the Army working in Communications. After a few years in the Army, I left to pursue a career in sport which inevitably ended due to age and injury.

I retrained and worked in the marine transport sector as a ship broker and then as a marine insurance underwriter. Now in my role at Stadium, I feel like I am bringing all my skills and experience together.

How did you find the role at Stadium and what made you want to work here?

The role at Stadium actually found me! I was invited to consider a vacancy, and when I looked into the opportunity, I was immediately drawn to the chance to use all my previous experience in one role. I was excited by the new challenge and eager to see what I could achieve.

What does your role involve on a day-to-day basis?

A bit of everything! From site visits and phone calls chasing business, to helping customers develop their requirements. I also input new parts into our stock inventory and even get hands-on by making crates and cases or helping to pack goods. Collaboration is key here, so we all get involved in whatever’s needed.

What is something interesting you have worked on?

There has been a lot of interesting projects. We get to see all sorts of interesting things that go on all over the region, and we get to solve the logistical problems of getting the products out to market.

I’ve always been drawn to large-scale engineering, so one of my favourite projects was building and packing a case the size of a small house to transport a double storey, tracked seabed mining excavator. It was built in Blyth, Northumberland and destined for Arctic, Canada. You’d expect something like that to need a steel container, but it’s incredible what can be achieved with a well-designed wooden box and a strong understanding of the item being shipped. It’s interesting to learn new things and find new ways of looking at problems.

What do you enjoy most about your role?

I really like the variety, having different things to focus on keeps the work interesting and it means no two days are the same. Also, like I said, I enjoy being able to use all my past experiences and apply them to my role at Stadium.

What’s one challenge you’re looking forward to tackling in your role?

My overall aim is that when I come to leave, I’m leaving better than I found. I really want to develop some significant new lines of business, to make Stadium a stronger and more resilient business for all the people that depend on it.

Where does your motivation come from?

That’s a tough one. I suppose I’ve always wanted to be a giver, not a taker. My parents and the older generation in my family have been a big inspiration, so perhaps it stems from them.

What is an interesting fact about you?

I can wiggle my ears and I’m pretty nifty on a rowing machine! Does that count as interesting…?

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

I like to keep busy outside of work, whether that is spending time with family and friends, or keeping active at the gym, playing water sports and walking. I also like having some time to relax, enjoying good food and drink and reading old paper books. This summer I’m looking forward to watching the rugby when the British Lions tour of Australia is on TV.

What are you most proud of?

My family and friends… well, most of the time anyway!

Thanks for chatting with us Garath, we wish you all the best for your future at Stadium!