Anita Harrison-Carroll has been appointed as Director of Sovini Trade Supplies; a specialist building and timber merchants in Merseyside.
As Director, Anita is responsible for the growth and development of the new business, while overseeing and ensuring product certainty, productivity and excellent customer service – along with ensuring that the business goals are centred on the desire to do social good.
Indeed, Sovini Trade Supplies is described as being “unlike most businesses of its kind”, with all elements of the business – from sourcing and purchasing, to supplying and serving – centred on this socially responsible desire. As part of the philanthropic Sovini Group, capacity generated by Sovini Trade Supplies will be reinvested in the group’s non-profit social housing partners, supporting their investment in new homes and developing local communities.
Sovini Trade Supplies has been operating since 2014, and reports that it celebrated an extremely successful first year, exceeding its profit target of £750k.
Anita (pictured in the beige coat with Ian Fazakerley, Roy Williams, Tracey Liggett and Phil Pemberton) said: “Setting up this new business has certainly been challenging, but after its first pivotal year we surpassed our goals and expectations; which the team and I are extremely proud of.
“But this is just the start. Our sales target for the next four years is £20 to £25 million, which we plan to achieve by investing in our people, systems and environment to provide forward-thinking and innovate supply chain solutions to existing and future customers across the North West.”
Since heading up Sovini Trade Supplies, Anita has played a crucial role in securing a number of key business contracts, making Sovini Trade Supplies key suppliers to companies including Keepmoat, Mark One Interiors, Upholland Property Services, and North Liverpool Construction.
Anita has been with the group since January 2010, initially employed as a Contracts Manager for One Vision Housing. After the set up on the Sovini Group structure in January 2012, she was appointed as Group Procurement Manager and in 2014 made the switch to Sovini Trade Supplies, tasked to set up the new business as Head of Operations. She excelled in this role, making significant wholesale improvements to the business; increasing sales and making efficiencies, while also focusing on labour relations.
Earlier this year Anita was recognised as a trailblazer for women in the construction sector, after being named ‘Business Leader of the Year’ at the Women in Construction Awards 2015.
Sovini Group partners include One Vision Housing, Pine Court Housing Association, Sovini Property Services, Sovini Building and Maintenance and Sovini Homes.
Sovini Trade Supplies places strong emphasis on its commitment to its Corporate Social Responsibility goals, working within the ISO 26001 framework in Social Responsibility to ensure it acts “in an ethical and transparent way that contributes to the health and welfare of society”. It is certified to both FSC and PEFC Chain of Custody for timber products, whilst fuel usage is consistently monitored and the business has reduced fuel consumption by 45% over the year.
It actively seeks local suppliers to reduce the amount of journeys made transporting materials and to support local jobs whilst it also supports local schools, charities and organisations via the One Vision Housing and Pine Court Housing Community Development Funds, which donate £45,000 of grants each year.
