When the door fell off on his old banger of a car, young engineer Roy Johnson realised it was time to get serious about his career.

Roy, from Biddulph, noticed that the company’s sales people were given a car and embarked on a path which led him from the factory floor to the boardroom.

A highly successful career led Roy to a role as Sales Director and General Manager for global engineering systems company Red Lion Controls.

Now Roy has left corporate life to teach the sales techniques which made him successful to business people in Staffordshire and Cheshire.

Executives from small and medium sized businesses attend regular workshops led by Roy in Stoke-on-Trent. Companies can also book sessions at their own, or alternative premises, anywhere in the UK.

They are taught the same techniques as well-known Sandler corporate clients including American Express and Hewlett Packard.

A successful business launch has quickly led to growth with Roy taking on his first employee, Sarah Woodward, who has taken on responsibility for marketing and social media.

Recalling the car calamity, Roy said: “It was like something from a sit-com, I shut the car door and it came off its hinges and I had to pick it up and lock it into position.

“I saw the sales people had company cars and I thought maybe that’s a way forward for me.”

Fast forward 30 years and attendance on a Sandler training course led to another major change for Roy.

“I found I had been using some of the Sandler techniques but had no idea why they worked, it was a Eureka moment for me and I decided to leave corporate life and buy a Sandler franchise,” said Roy.

“I have been lucky enough to enjoy a long corporate career but I now feel I have an opportunity to work with small and medium sized businesses in my home area to give them the same training which keeps many major companies at the top of their game.”

“I began my working life as a trainee engineer at GEC Kidsgrove and that background served me well as I moved into business development and sales. My career has taken me around the world but I’ve always come back to Biddulph.

“It is exciting and satisfying to think I can now help good companies from North Staffordshire and the surrounding areas to grow and to create jobs for local people.”