About Us Lawsons is the UK’s largest independent supplier of fencing, timber and building materials. Established in 1921, we operate across London and the South East of England with over 35 branches, more than 700 employees and a turnover of £165 million. We are committed to delivering high quality products and exceptional service to both trade and retail customers. Role Overview We are recruiting a Branch Manager to join our Basingstoke branch. This is a hands-on leadership role based in-branch, responsible for running the branch day-to-day, delivering excellent customer service, driving sales and profit, leading and developing the branch team, and ensuring safe, efficient operations across counter, yard and delivery functions. Working hours Full time, permanent position. Typical hours will be Monday to Friday 07.30 - 17.00 and 1 in 2 Saturday mornings 08.00 - 12.00. Occasional flexibility may be required to meet business needs. Employee Benefits Competitive salary dependent on experience 28 days’ holiday plus UK Bank Holidays and an additional celebration day. Pension scheme, Death in Service benefit, and Employee Assistance Programme. Access to the “My Reward” platform including Online GP Access and wellbeing support. Comprehensive onboarding and ongoing training with clear career development opportunities. Supportive, team-oriented culture within a leading independent supplier. Main Responsibilities Own the branch P&L by driving sales, margin and service targets through commercial activity and effective pricing and stock management. Lead, coach and develop a mixed team across counter, telesales, yard and delivery, ensuring high standards of performance, attendance and conduct. Manage day-to-day operations including stock control, merchandising, ordering and stock reconciliations to maintain accurate inventory and availability. Ensure efficient coordination of deliveries and collections, optimising routes and service levels in collaboration with drivers and regional support. Provide excellent customer service in-branch and by telephone, offering product advice and resolving issues promptly. Recruit, induct and develop colleagues, conduct performance reviews and set clear objectives to support career progression. Maintain accurate branch paperwork and electronic records in line with company systems, ensuring compliance and timely reporting. Promote and enforce health and safety policies, complete risk assessments and ensure correct use of PPE and safe working practices. Identify opportunities for process improvements, cost savings and commercial initiatives and lead their implementation locally. Act as the senior decision-maker in-branch, covering operational responsibilities and escalating issues to regional colleagues when necessary. Qualifications and Skills Proven experience in a management or senior supervisory role within builders’ merchants, timber, landscaping or a related sector. Strong commercial awareness with a track record of achieving sales targets and managing margin. Demonstrable experience of leading and developing teams, with the ability to motivate colleagues and manage performance constructively. Practical knowledge of branch operations including stock management, ordering and logistics. Excellent communication and customer service skills, with a professional telephone manner and the ability to build rapport quickly. Organised, resilient and able to prioritise a varied workload while maintaining attention to detail. Basic IT literacy to use company systems, CRM and Microsoft Office applications. Full UK driving licence preferred. Forklift accreditation and other operational qualifications are desirable but training can be provided where appropriate. Why Join Lawsons? Be part of a well-established and respected company with excellent career development opportunities. Play a key role in a busy, customer-focused branch with direct influence on performance and service. Access to company benefits including pension, employee assistance programme and training opportunities. A supportive team environment where your contribution is recognised and valued. Lawsons is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates. If you are a confident, commercially minded leader who enjoys working in a fast-paced, practical environment, we would like to hear from you. MP