Steve Smith
Managing Director
Short Bio
I left school at 16 and worked in the kitchen industry for 2-3 years selling kitchens door-to-door. After that, I moved to Autoglass where I was promoted to a sales manager. I joined SBS in July 1992 as a driver, and then in roles in the warehouse and in the tube store. I served customers on the trade counter and then went on to work in the sales office, before becoming the Associate Director in 1999. After learning about all aspects of the business throughout my career, I became the Joint Managing director in 2006, and then finally the Managing Director in 2017.
Quick fire questions:
I am learning to fly.
“Winning isn’t everything, but wanting to win is.”
My Dad.
The internet.
Integrating both product and service advancements into the industry, while remaining customer focused.
David Bryson
Financial Director
Short Bio
I joined the business back in 1988, where I covered multiple financial roles within the Smith Brothers umbrella. After the turn of the millennium, the company’s accelerating growth became apparent, and I was promoted to Financial Director of SBS Ltd. I oversee all accounts, transport and property decisions within the business, and my role has grown significantly with the company’s expansion.
Tony Smith
Sales Director
Short Bio
In 1977 I started working at R.Pochin & Son (now Pochin), a local plumbing and heating merchant. From 1981 I worked out the same premises for over 18 years (due to ownership changes). One of the companies was PTS, where I worked as a Sales Manager in the East Midlands region. In 1999, I moved to Smith Brothers, where I remain today. I have turned my hand at numerous job roles, but I specialise in sales, becoming Director in 2005.
Quick fire questions:
I don’t like football and I am a keen follower of Formular 1.
“Beware of little expenses. A small leak will sink a great ship.”
John Button – his dedication and his selfless nature to help his son achieve his dreams before his passing, was a great inspiration.
Calculator.
Ensure that the ‘Carillion’ scenario does not affect stakeholder confidence in investing in the HVAC industry.
Quick fire questions:
I am world ranked at Pinball, and I have represented Leicestershire at the World Championships of Table Tennis.
“Good Friends are like stars, you don’t always see them but you know they are there.”
My family.
‘Mine a Million’ Board Game.
Ensuring safety, performance, environment and cost are all considered equally from a business perspective because losing sight of one of these aspects can have damaging consequences.
Andy Clements
Director
Short Bio
I’ve been working within the HVAC industry since 2005. I started my HVAC career at A O Smith as a Sales Engineer and went up to National Sales Manager. I then joined Daikin, a large Multi-National Company, where I worked on specification sales for three years before joining SBS. I started at SBS in November 2016 as an Area Sales Manager for Birmingham. Since then, I have worked my way from Joint Branch Manager, Regional Manager and to now Director. I believe in what the company stands for and genuinely think this is only the start of the journey for SBS. The key has been and always will be the staff.
I am also happily married to my fantastic wife, Kim.
Jason Fretwell
Director
Short Bio
I left school to become an Apprentice Pipefitter Welder for a local Sheffield company called Woodward & Co. I worked on the tools for 12 years before joining Wolseley – Control Center as a Sales Engineer covering the Sheffield & Hull branches.
Subsequently, I travelled to Leeds to join Warrens (where many others from the SBS team have worked). After my time at Warrens, I left distribution and went into the manufacturing world, where I spent the next 15 years with A O Smith Water Heaters & Hamworthy Boilers before joining SBS in 2019. So, all in all, I’ve been working in this beautiful industry since 1989.
Quick fire questions:
I’m a very keen carp angler. My personal best carp is 56lb.
I love nothing more than spending a few days by a lake with a few beers and a takeaway!
“Be Yourself, everybody else is already taken!”
It is my parents. If I can become half the people they were I’ll be doing something right!
The plane. To have the foresight to think we could fly; it would have been an obscene thought at the time!
As the world moves towards new technologies and strives to increase efficiencies and reduce carbon, there’s a huge amount in the HVAC industry that will need to change to keep up. One significant one will be moving away from fossil fuels, which will be a huge task for the industry to implement.
Quick fire questions:
I still support Sheffield Wednesday Football Club after all this time!!
“You only get out what you put in…”
My Dad.
The telephone.
Climate change.