Catabasis

Robert Hobbs BA MSc FIoN

• An enthusiastic, energetic senior manager with innovative vision and excellent leadership capabilities. Coupled to solid hands-on practical diverse experience at operational, strategic and financial planning levels, I have wide overseas’ commercial, commodity trading, property & logistics experience.

September 1999 – to date   Tradenet Securities & Tradenet International

Managing/Sales Director – Business Advisors & Investors/Commodity Traders

 Responsibilities

Specialists in EU/ERDF Grants & Finance (including lottery applications and grants for charities), responsible for business strategic planning & development, company formations & start-up planning offering Company Secretary, Registered Office, Small Business Accounts & Marketing Services.

Achievements

• Assisted/established more than 100 SME’s and charities for stakeholders and raised more than £10 million in capital/grants/bank funding and lottery funding
• See tradenetllp.co.uk
• tradenetinternationalltd.com (commodity trading – Fuels, Whisky, Sugar, Coffee)
• Identified locations, secured full Planning Consent and £25M in Bank Funding for 5 Residential Sites to build 250+ houses 2002/8

September 2002 – November 2010                                Scotia Nutritionals Limited

Company Secretary/Quality Assurance Director – Bio-tech Oil & Protein Factory

 Responsibilities

The shareholder responsible for securing property; £1.5M in bank finance, grants & investor equity; management & recruitment of 8 staff, control of finance, insurances, logistics, admin, accounting and the authorised signatory on all purchase orders & cheques.

Achievements

• Formed the Company, created and managed the company Quality and Health & Safety Policy and Manuals to meet FEMAS, SEPA and Govt regulations.

May 2002 – March 2009             Spiersbridge Property Developments Limited

Company Secretary/Business Advisor – 10 acre Business Park

 Responsibilities

For all aspects of strategic development, FM, administration and funding of the business, site acquisition, planning/design through tender and contract negotiation, legal structuring and daily liaison with PQS & design team members and contractors. Maintaining project cashflow and bank/grant draw-downs, the selection of sales agents and liaising with prospective tenants.  

Achievements

• Hand-over/completion of 35,000 sq ft offices & 50,000 sq ft light-industrial space within £7M budget
• Secured £1.3M in ERDF grants.
• Created and implemented the marketing strategy.

Jan 1994 – May 2005                                                      Info Tech Solutions Limited

Managing/Sales Director

 Responsibilities

Providing computer business system solutions for clients who require software, problem & virus solutions, advice & training and the supply of hardware and peripherals equipment.

Achievements

• Obtaining exclusive Scottish distribution agreements with several software houses including SAS specialist software for the Optometrist profession and W3 Electronic Media for WEB Site design, management, E’ commerce and advertising.

June 1992 – Sept 1999                                        Metis Group  Accountants & Killincraig Associates

Company Secretary/Senior Advisor

 Responsibilities

All aspects of business strategic planning & development undertaken. Specialists in RSA Grants & Finance (Including Lottery Applications for Charities), Company Formations & Start-up planning, offering Company Secretary, Registered Office, Small Business Accounts & Marketing Services.

Achievements

 Assisted over 120 individuals, companies and charitable organizations to realise their goals

Overseas Experience

Olayan Group       Saudi Arabia  -  Positions Held

 1985 -1986                  Area Manager Riyadh         

Saudi General Transportation Co. - (Haulage & Logistics)

Responsibilities

For all company activities in the Central Province. The Operation of a mixed fleet of 60 trucks and support equipment with a compliment of 150 multi-national employees. Oversaw all operational duties, staff support (facilities management, housing, catering, wages, medical, travel) sales and business development, contract administration, budget planning and financial profitability.

 1984-1985                   Sales Manager Riyadh                    

Saudi General Transport Co. - (Haulage & Logistics)

Responsibilities

Route & equipment planning, negotiate and secure new business, liaise with existing clients.

Annual Contract Value

Aramco-Oil-field supply                                 £5.50m

Mabco-precast concrete                               £2.50m

Keang Nam-Dirab housing                            £1.80m

Saif Noman Said housing                              £2.40m

Hyundai-Riyadh/Qassim water pipeline      £1.75m

Tekfen-Jubail/Riyadh water pipeline            £2.60m

 1982-1984                   Sales & Marketing Manager Dammam    

Saudi Maritime Co. - (Ships Agency)

Responsibilities

For sales & marketing activities Kingdom-wide, recruitment and training of six salesmen. Procurement of statistics and sales data for represented shipping lines; Wallenius Lines, Hyundai Merchant Marine, OOCL Ltd, Sudcargo Lines. Compile weekly marketing reports for same. Attending International Sales Conventions of Principals, and the development of a computer generated database. Liaising with importers & exporters and their sales distributors.

 1981-1982 Operations Supervisor Dammam/Riyadh      

Saudi General Transport Co. - (Haulage & Logistics)

Responsibilities

For the day to day managing of large trucking terminals, including 175 employees, 150 trucks, 350 trailers and support equipment. For contract administration, logistics and liaison with clients:-

• Bechtel – K.K.I.A  1.25 million tonnes over 4 years
• Aramco Oil field supply
• Mannesman pipelines
• M.O.D.A armaments
• C & W, G.E Various

 1973 – 1992

Various roles in UK - Transport, Shipping & Freight Forwarding Companies (British Steel, Ellerman City Liners, Wm Martin & Co Marine, Hobbsfreight, East-West Express); Funded, designed, built & managed Harry’s Bar & Restaurant - Largs.

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Education

Dalry High & Garnock Academy

O Levels – English, Mathematics, Arithmetic, Chemistry, Physics, Geography

Highers – English, Geography

Higher Education - University of Paisley – 1992/1995                                    

                                                      MSc. Business Information Technology (Nanotechnology)                                                     

                                                      B.A. in Business Administration (Accounting & Marketing)

 Professional                               Co-Founder/Fellow Institute of Nanotechnology - FIoN

                                                       Member Chartered Institute Marketing - MCIM

 Languages                                   Rudimentary French & Arabic

 Charities Work 

1998 – to date.                             Co-Founder/Trustee and Board Member of Community Housing Advocacy Project (CHAP),                                                                        Irvine/Ardrossan.

I.T. Skills                                         Expert - MS Office (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Publisher, Access), Sage, Sage Forecasting, Xero,                                                                   Project Gantt, AutoCAD, Website & EmailBuilder.