Carl has been with the Cardiff team for 6 months now, so it felt like a good time to get to know him a little better. Proudly Welsh, Carl recently moved to Pentwyn but grew up in Rumney, Cardiff – not far from WG Davies – and he went to school there too. His roots are very much local but he is well travelled and we enjoyed hearing his story.
After leaving school at 16, Carl began his career with Audi, completing a three-year apprenticeship and staying on for another two years as a technician.
At 21, he decided he wanted something completely different and joined the Royal Welsh Infantry. “I saw a lot of places – Germany, Canada, all over Europe – but nothing where the weather is good! There were some very tough times, especially the winter training, which was brutal… but looking back, some of those were the best times too.” He recalls that those times were the most challenging he has endured but today he takes strength from them.
Eventually, the demands of military life took their toll. “There comes a stage where you want to settle down, take life a bit more seriously, and I just couldn’t see that happening if I stayed.” So Carl moved back into the motor trade, this time as Parts Manager for the White Dove Group (Seat, Skoda and Suzuki), where he stayed for just short of five years before joining WG Davies as R&M Contract & Warranty Administrator following an approach via LinkedIn. It was not a role that made the most of his experience and today he’s one of two Workshop Controllers.
We asked him about his first impressions of WG Davies, he told us “When I visited the Cardiff depot I liked that everyone I met, including Roger, was down to earth and they were happy to share details about the workings of the business.”
As a qualified technician, with parts experience as well, it is perhaps no surprise that he was quickly offered the role of Workshop Controller just 5 months after he joined. “I always hoped I’d get the chance to try different roles and this opportunity is perfect for me. I understand the technical side and the parts side, I enjoy dealing with customers and I thrive in a fast-paced environment – I feel really at home here. I don't even look at the clock and that's the way I like it.”
He works alongside James in the office, a team that’s been evolving and is now coming together nicely. “It’s been six months of change, so although we are not a new team there is definitely a fresh feel to it and we just need a bit of time to really gel properly now and we will. We’ve all got the same goal.”
We’ve had feedback through the CSI programme which tells us he is excellent with customers, “In my last job role, it was more customer-facing, in the car world, you see and speak to all the customers but I’m starting to build relationships here too, not just with drivers but with operators and owners. Obviously HGV customers are different – their vehicles are their livelihood – so the relationship is a bit different too but I am getting to know them and they are getting to know me. I really like that.”
Given his background, we asked him what he found to be the biggest surprise when he moved from cars to trucks. “The technology – there are so many control units and I’m still learning what some of them do. It’s been humbling for me, like starting again. I used to be the guy people came to for answers, but here I’m learning more about the vehicles every day.” So perhaps it is no great surprise that if we granted him one wish, he told us “I would like to know all the technical R&M knowledge overnight.”
It is clear that the fit with WG Davies is good, “I’ve been through a lot of different chapters already, but this feels like the one that’s building toward something solid. I’m learning, I’m busy and I’m in the right place.”
After work, you’ll usually find Carl in the gym, that’s his reset. Health and fitness are really important to him and on the weekend he will often head out for a long adventure walk with the family dog, finishing with a well earned pint in a quiet pub somewhere tucked away. “I like being around people, but I also really like time to myself. Just being out in nature clears my head.”
Perhaps at odds with that he enjoys his creature comforts, “I like keeping up with the tech world, the tech news and stuff like that and I have got some smart features in my home.” And he also enjoys a good Netflix series. Most recently he watched the Ed Gein Story, Carl tells us “I enjoy all the weird murder ones and stuff like that.” And for those that haven’t seen this series, we can confirm it is weird and very dark!
He also enjoys time with his friends locally and on weekends away. Late summer they enjoyed a fourday trip to Cornwall with unexpectedly glorious weather. He describes this time as often chaotic, “When I get together with my friends we sort of bounce off each other, it's like I put on a different head – it’s really high energy.”
It struck us that there are really three versions of Carl. There’s the calm, composed Carl at work – focused, productive, and getting things done. Then there’s the quiet Carl, happiest when he’s alone and surrounded by nature. And finally, there’s the chaotic Carl, the one who loves his tech and truly comes alive when he’s in good company.
It’s been great getting to know Carl, from his background and work experience, to the different sides of his personality. He already brings so much value to the team and it’s clear he’s exactly where he was meant to be. We’re glad he chose WG Davies as the next step in his journey and we’re looking forward to seeing what comes next for him.