Name: Nancy Thorley
Job title: managing director, Vehicle Consulting Solent
How long in role: almost 4 years
Current drive? Renault Zoe, with a Tesla Model Y on order
NANCY Thorley and husband Paul now live and work in their ‘happy place’ on the Isle of Wight. Nancy is managing director of Vehicle Consulting Solent and Paul is head of partnerships. So, how did Nancy end up there?
In 2005, Nancy was just starting out and underway with a maths degree, but life had other plans. A combination of young single motherhood, lack of funds and study time meant she had to park the degree. Nancy then took on various jobs to support her children, which included everything from cleaning to childminding.
Nancy made her first foray into automotive in 2007 when she started a part time administrative role for nationwide vehicle broker Autofinder. Personal contract hire was just becoming popular and Nancy set up the leasing side of the business, which set the course for her broking career.
Then Nancy and Paul, who had been in automotive his whole career, decided to take the plunge and set up their own brokerage in 2012. Nancy took on the MD role with Paul as sales director. She explains:
‘We set up Simply Vehicle Leasing as a pure leasing business with the aim of improving the customer experience. We decided to run it as a lifestyle business which we could manage around the children. Well, that was the plan – we got a bit carried away and, before we knew it, we had 16 staff in place! It was a really successful business.’
When the couple sadly lost Paul’s dad in 2019, they decided life was too short to put off plans. They had always dreamed of relocating to the Isle of Wight with the idea of slowing down a little, so they decided to make the move. The pair continued to run the Simply business remotely until they sold it in 2020.
Then, the next opportunity came along. As part of the sale, Nancy and Paul were invited by Vehicle Consulting to become an Appointed Representative (AR) and run a franchise for the Solent region, covering the south coast as well as the Isle of Wight. Then covid happened.
‘Whilst covid slowed the launch of the new business, it gave us time to refine our proposition. Our approach is highly consultative and we’re also incredibly passionate about helping businesses switch to electric vehicles and maximise the advantages of salary sacrifice.’
So, what are the couple’s roles in the business?
Nancy oversees the strategy and operations and ‘makes things happen’, while Paul manages the sales and relationship side – as well as being what Nancy describes as ‘the visionary’. Nancy says that they balance each other out and work well together.
But there is not always such parity in the automotive world. Whilst Nancy says things have improved, she has definitely come up against prejudice:
I’ve attended automotive industry events and been greeted with the assumption that I’m just there to support Paul. I remember one guy commenting that it was great that wives were able to attend the event - I did explain to him that I was actually the MD of the business.
Nancy feels passionately that leaders have a critical role in making the right recruitment decisions and ensuring women are given equal opportunities:
‘There is a perception that women are less confident, and men can’t do admin. Employers need to ensure they look for values, transferable skills and passion. Sadly, having a family still stops some people employing women – we need to get women back into work and, where needed, build their confidence.’
She adds that women are in real danger of stopping themselves being successful and has this advice:
‘If you think you can do 60 per cent of a role then go for it, it’s all about mindset. It’s natural to be nervous, but you need to push through what makes you feel uncomfortable. That will boost your confidence and it will snowball – you’ll learn that you have transferable skills that you might not even realise will help you succeed.’
And now, with a decade running brokerages already under her belt, what’s next for Nancy?
Not one to leave things unfinished, alongside running the business, Nancy has gone back to university and is studying for a Business and Leadership degree.
About Vehicle Consulting Solent
Vehicle Consulting Solent is a specialist electric vehicle broker, bringing all the benefits of dealing with one of the largest brokers in the UK locally on the Isle of Wight and across the South of England.
About Women in Broking
Women in Broking is our regular series of features highlighting some of the great women who are so influential in the leasing broker sector – a sector that has been male dominated for too long. The series celebrates the Women in Broking and hopes to encourage more women to have a successful career in the leasing broker market.
Here’s the previous Women in Broking feature:
Women in Broking: Shaheda Mears
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Laura is a writer and Head of Marketing for Broker News, with extensive automotive experience from senior marketing roles with RBS/Nat West, Lombard Vehicle Management and Unipart. She is also a self-confessed petrol-head.
