Inventory Clerk to Operations Manager: Alex Williams

Editor’s Note:

At AIIC, we believe every Inventory Clerk has a story worth sharing.
In our new Voices from the Field series, we’re spotlighting the real people shaping our industry — those who bring professionalism, passion, and pride to their work every day.
First up is Alex Williams, Operations Manager at Bright Inventories, who shares his journey from trainee clerk to running the operations of a thriving business — and why, even now, he’s never lost touch with the work on the ground.

Alex Williams, Operations Manager, Bright Inventories, Dorset

To be honest, I didn’t even know I wanted to become an inventory clerk.

While I was at college, I knew I had an interest in property but couldn’t quite decide how to progress with it. Then the opportunity fell into my lap — I started working with a local company, Bright Inventories.

After my very first training session, my interest in the role really grew. I became keen to learn more about how a property should be presented and what specifications it needs to meet for tenants to live in it safely and comfortably.

I was lucky to be trained by the company director, who had a huge amount of experience in inventories and had built the business from the ground up. There was a lot to take in, but with time, my confidence grew, and I was able to work entirely on my own.

We cover the whole of Dorset, which meant travelling around some of the best countryside in the country. I loved working independently — even if it could be a little ‘challenging’ at times!

As I progressed, the opportunity came up to become the Assistant Manager. It felt like a massive step for me — I wanted to contribute more to the company, and a managerial role gave me the perfect chance to expand my skills. It also involved working more closely with letting agents, answering their queries instead of just collecting keys.

I genuinely enjoy every part of the job — from inspecting a wide range of properties to meeting and catching up with the letting agents and building strong working relationships. I also enjoy the administrative side: liaising with agents, arranging inspections, and taking pride in sending out well-presented, informative reports.

I think my enjoyment and commitment are reflected in the 11 years I’ve spent with the company. Over the years, my role has changed and grown, and I’ve enjoyed learning more about how the business operates and adapting to new challenges.

Like most inventory companies, we’ve seen a lot of changes and expect to see more. These days, I spend a larger part of my time in front of a PC rather than out in the field, but that makes the days I get to work in a beautiful Dorset village even more valuable.

Having a young family, this job gives me the flexibility to organise my hours around childcare and family life — although there’s always the day when an agent ‘finds’ an inventory they forgot to book, or someone calls in sick, and I have to jump back into the field! It definitely keeps things interesting.

In 2023, I became the Operations Manager. My role now involves dealing with all administrative aspects of the business, but I still get out clerking when needed — something I still love doing. Becoming Operations Manager was a massive achievement for me, and it shows what’s possible in this line of work. Inventory clerking isn’t just one job — there are many different roles within it, and it’s a career I’m proud of and plan to continue for many years to come.

Interested in working with Alex and Bright Inventories?

If you’re looking for a professional, reliable inventory service in Dorset, you can find out more here:
👉 www.brightinventories.co.uk

Published on 02/05/2025