Based in South Essex, Allen began his career in the motor industry at 16 as an Army Apprentice. After qualifying as an Army vehicle mechanic, he gained hands-on experience working across a wide range of military vehicles, from motorcycles through to heavy trucks. This gave him a strong technical foundation in challenging, practical environments.
After nearly eight years of service, Allen joined The AA as a Patrol. Over the next 20 years, he attended breakdowns at the roadside, supported his local team with coaching, and assisted The AA as part of its flood response team. He later moved into a Performance Leader role, managing both Breakdown and Recovery Patrols while helping local teams with compliance, coaching and the development of new patrols.
Allen continued to progress within The AA, later becoming Regional Manager for East London. Throughout his career, he has remained focused on operational performance, team development and delivering high standards of service in demanding conditions, while staying close to his roots of solving problems at the roadside and helping members when they need support most.
Allen has a long-standing passion for driving and vehicle reliability in all conditions. He also has a strong interest in emerging vehicle technology, having driven electric vehicles since 2011. Outside of work, he enjoys motorcycle touring.
Awards and qualifications
- City & Guilds – Motor Vehicle Repair, Light and Heavy Goods
- IMI Level 2 – Electric Vehicles
- ILM Level 3 & Level 5 – Leadership & Management
- Transport Manager CPC – Heavy Goods Vehicles