Meet the team

In our series of articles, we meet Kate Bolderston and Simon Finch, who work in Mark Pratt’s Group Service and Supply team. We learn more about them, their roles and what they get up to in their spare time.

Kate Bolderston, Head of Supply Chain

What key experience are you bringing to Markerstudy Group?

I bring 25 years’ experience in the motor claim sectors, coming from a motor repairer background – firstly running a busy service and MOT department and then estimating vehicle damage for insurance claims. In 2006 I joined Co-op Insurance as an image engineer, then was promoted to Team Manager of the internal engineering and support teams before moving into Supply Chain to manage suppliers – primarily any that were linked to third party claims, such as intervention, fraud, credit hire, bodily injury, panel solicitors and LEI provider.

What are your future plans or most important objective(s) for your part of the business?

Embedding a supply chain framework and demonstrating appropriate levels of governance and oversight of our suppliers, identifying efficient ways of working using data where possible.

What makes you tick at work?

Group Service and Supply work as one team, supporting each other and delivering a great service.

What advice would you give to your younger self if you could travel back in time?

Don’t be afraid to grasp new opportunities, believe in your capabilities and have the confidence to try new things.

What do you do in your free time?

We live in rural Shropshire, so are lucky enough to spend a lot of our free time walking our two dogs (one is just a puppy so more time is spent carrying her at the moment). I also love to read, listen to music and try to cook new recipes – themed meals to celebrate dates such as Burns Night and St Patrick’s Day kept us entertained during lockdown.

Simon Finch, Head of Engineering

What key experience are you bringing to Markerstudy Group?

My career has spanned a wide variety of roles in the motor claims and vehicle repair world. I have worked as an image engineer, field engineer, auditor, team manager, complaints manager, repair network manager and function leader as well as being part of claims leadership teams. This means I have a full understanding of claims and how engineering is vital to the journey. I represent Markerstudy on Thatcham’s Engineers Technical Committee which drives change in the body repair and insurance industries around salvage and safe repair.

What are your future plans or most important objective(s) for your part of the business?

I am passionate about developing talent, as a skills gap in the body repair industry has meant that engineering recruits are hard to find. We have just started a programme to develop our own engineers in collaboration with Thatcham. I am looking to introduce more efficient ways of working and getting the best out of the great people we have in the team.

What makes you tick at work?

I love the cut and thrust of the daily challenge. Every day is different, but with the assistance of my talented colleagues there is no problem that we can’t solve. Continuous improvement is a passion, and I believe in constantly looking for areas of improvement. This means I am able to provide the best service to the customer by building capability in my team and ensuring fast and safe repair of vehicles.

What advice would you give to your younger self if you could travel back in time?

I would say have more confidence. Every new role is going to be difficult to adapt to and you will always struggle at first. You must see that as a challenge to overcome and if you put in the hard work then you will prosper.

What do you do in your free time?

In my free time I like to be active. I’m a member of a running club and compete in road, cross country and even the occasional fell run. I also like to walk the fells and my wife and I spend a lot of my time in the Lake District. I do also enjoy reading, cinema, theatre and from time to time will seek out local tap bars to sample real ale straight from the cask.