Grant Reeves, Branch Manager Seven Hills

Tell us about your work history at Coates Hire, for example: How long you have been working here, what positions you have held, your current position and location?

I have been with Coates Hire for 9 years starting with National Hire at Emu Plains as a Casual in March 2001. I worked as a yardman/ driver for approximately 6 months where I proved that I had a good work ethic and also the potential to progress in the company. I was approached by my area Manager and was offered a hire controller's position at concord which I quickly accepted. I worked in this position briefly until my manager at the time resigned and was promoted into the Branch Manager. National hire then put me through numerous training programs such as Cert 4 Business Manager, Safety Committee training and other product and safety short courses. Still as a manager I was moved around to other Sydney metro branches as required. I worked a short time in the BCP division while it was based at Ingleburn where I learnt a lot about the larger construction and civil side of Coates hire's fleet and then finally ended up in the position that I currently hold as the branch manager of Seven hills T&E branch.

What do you like about working for Coates Hire?

The reason I like working for Coates Hire is that I have variety in my role and also the potential for career development. Coates hire offers an exceptional training program which I have been more the lucky to be involved in which is how I got to complete my diploma in Business management.

Do you have a memorable moment or an interesting story from your time working at Coates Hire?

Every day at Coates hire is interesting, it is such a reactive business that is challenging and also rewarding. I have been lucky enough to have met heaps of people within Coates hire and also customers of Coates Hire that I have developed good relationships with. One of the most memorable moments while working at Coates would be when I travelled to Western Australia to help train the baseplan system to staff members that come across in the merge of National hire and AH Plant Hire. Their world was completely different to ours but yet they were very accepting and took me around to a few different mine's and pubs where I got to meet a few off the locals and get a better understanding of how they operate and the gear they hire.