Logistics Stories

Ryan knew he wanted a fast paced career, but he wasn’t sure exactly where that would be.

“I never wanted to go to university. After college I got a job as an Assistant Manager at Costa Coffee, and this meant that I would end up speaking to my current employer (Kuehne+Nagel) on a daily basis to place orders. I began to think that logistics might be a good career option for myself”

He didn’t have any industry experience, but secured a Bid Management Apprenticeship with Kuehne+Nagel, which then led to a full time position and ultimately, to an exciting new opportunity in Australia.

“I came across a job listing for an Excellence Manager with Kuehne+Nagel Australia and reached out to express my interest. I had a job offer within three weeks and moved to Melbourne within six.”

Ryan’s role entails supporting Account Managers with tender management, continuous improvement, business reviews and other tasks on behalf of customers. Even though his role would normally require a degree, because he had completed his apprenticeship and also had a Level 3 BTEC he was deemed to have the required credentials. Which proved to be a good call:

“I was recognised in the Multimodal 30 Under 30 Awards, and given the opportunity to be a guest panellist at the Multimodal Convention at the NEC. It was a real privilege to have the opportunity to share my passion for the industry with such a large audience.”

Rebecca worked in the soft drinks industry for over 17 years. However, living close to the Hinkley Point C construction project had piqued her interest, so when a role with Wincanton came up, which would be part of the project, she jumped at the chance to be involved.

“This is my first role in logistics but, as an Account Manager, all of my skills were transferable. So although there was a lot to learn, I knew I had the core skill set for the role.”

Rebecca’s role is to be part of the infrastructure team focused on energy, identifying new business opportunities, participating in tenders and working closely with the marketing team.

However, because she was new to the sector, Rebecca was keen to expand her knowledge, and took the opportunity to complete a BSC Hons apprenticeship in Supply Chain Leadership, which is a three and half year course.

“My short-term goal is to complete my degree apprenticeship and graduate in 2025, and then after that who knows? I love that I’ve been given the opportunity to further my career like this, and for me it shows I made the right decision to change careers when I did.”

Growing up with a parent who worked in logistics, Elise felt she already had the base of knowledge needed to seek out her own career within the industry.

And while she appreciated the abundance of opportunity and a diverse range of roles to explore, she also saw logistics as a heavily male-dominated industry, with a strict 9-5 schedule, limited freedom and a long list of rules to follow.

Since joining CEVA, that perception has changed: “I am pleased to say that the industry is moving away from being male-dominated and is becoming much more flexible. In my role I am free to go into the office as I please and have the opportunity to travel abroad for business, meaning no two days at work feel the same.”

Embracing this flexibility has proved important to Elise. “There are plenty of opportunities to develop your career in any way you wish, and to participate in projects outside of your day-to-day role. There are so many opportunities to network around the business which allow me to learn what other roles involve.”

When it comes to encouraging others to take the leap into logistics, Elise doesn’t hold back: “I would say go for it! There are plenty of roles open for all experience levels and opportunities to work your way up or to enroll on a number of different courses covering a wide range of topics, ranging from short courses of just 4 weeks all the way to degree apprenticeships.”

After graduating with a degree in International Business and French, Hannah joined Hoyer in April 2016 as a Fuels Planner.

‘As my degree wasn’t directly linked to logistics I was delighted to be offered the Planner role and get my foot in the door with such a reputable company. Just over a year later I was successful in gaining a place on the company’s Employee Development Programme; I was given a Company mentor and structured development plan to help me to achieve my career goals. After only 2 years in the planning team I was offered the role of Planning Supervisor for one of the Bitumen contracts, an opportunity I grabbed with both hands,  I viewed this is a great stepping stone towards progressing further into management in the future’

Following a company restructure in 2020, the responsibility for Resource Planning moved from the field locations to Head Office and Hannah was appointed as a Regional Resource Manager.

‘My current role in the business poses challenges that must be solved in the most efficient and cost-effective manner. I am faced with new challenges to solve on a daily basis whether it be customer facing or through ensuring that I effectively manage my team of planners to ensure that the operation runs to its fullest potential. I have enjoyed being pushed out of my comfort zone during this time. Possessing strong communication and problem solving skills, and being able to manage your own time effectively, is a major plus for anyone coming into this type of working environment due to the ever changing nature of the job and the unpredictable situations that arise’

‘Hoyer offer excellent personal development opportunities for those with “can do, will do” attitude. I have learnt a lot and made some great friends over the last 4 years.  I am very eager to progress further within HOYER and to broaden my experiences as far as I can, I look forward to further progressing my career within the company’

Rajvir was always interested in corporate sustainability.

“Since my MSc I’ve been interested in the topic, and particularly how companies can be sustainable and still grow.”

Initially, she joined Kuehne+Nagel in a different role, but through her obvious passion for the subject and her proactive engagement with the #BlueforGreen initiative, the management team saw that she’d be ideal for a different role.

“My current role entails leading the company’s sustainability agenda within BU Air, and working with teams to make improvements in buildings and warehouses. I also work closely with the commercial team to assist with customer meetings, and the sustainability team in regards to moving forward the UK sustainability roadmap.”

Rajvir found that her passion for sustainability issues has become increasingly important within the sector.

“Sustainability is a bit of a buzzword, but it’s also complicated. At Kuehne+Nagel we’re looking into things like sustainable aviation fuels, biofuels, and modal shifts as well as staff education around the idea of the circular business model.”

Indeed, it’s the constant drive towards innovation and new solutions that makes her work so engaging and stimulating.

“It’s a subject that keeps evolving – which makes it exciting to learn more about.”

After gaining an Undergraduate degree in physics, Ross’ dream of becoming a pilot felt out of reach. He worked in food retail for a while, before heading into banking where he became a Business Development Manager.

By 2016, Ross had years of varied experience under his belt. Working in food retail meant he’d developed strong people skills, while his time at the bank made him commercially aware and at home with sales. He still had his physics foundation too, making him a whizz with data and numbers. All of this experience added up to a mixed and incredibly valuable skill set, which won him his next role, this time in logistics.

“My job was to help franchisees grow, to sit with them and understand their challenges. That role evolved and I became more operational… I was put onto a project with Accufrate in California, developing a freight comparison tool for InXpress, to help customers order pallets online.”
Ross has since gone on to work with logistics technology businesses including Flostream, Despatch Cloud and now HubEurope, a member of UKWA – Britain’s leading trade organisation for the logistics sector.

“If you don’t move around in your career, you don’t learn from the different experiences of the people around you. The people around me really helped me develop my skills. I have been very fortunate to work with some truly inspirational people.”

Ross urges school leavers to consider logistics:
“Logistics is something that will always exist, as something always needs moving from A to B. It’s a good place to be if you want longevity and career progression.”

Moving careers can be a daunting prospect, but skills and experience gathered from a diverse range of past workplaces can be applied to the logistics industry in all sorts of ways. That’s exactly what Helen brings to her role as a Risk Manager.

“I gained transferable skills through my time in the army, and working for a Local Authority. Prioritising responsibilities, dealing with emergencies, organisational skills, communication, qualifications around training, debriefing, trauma management, and strategic management in emergencies.”

That role isn’t so much about ownership of the risk, as it is about becoming an expert in the subject matter, through facilitation, problem solving and communication – both verbal and written. But it wasn’t a role, or an industry, that appealed at first.

“For my generation, it was never an aspiring career choice when I was at school. Although growing up as a young girl, the idea of being a long-distance lorry driver really appealed to me! Fast forward a number of years and being invited in for an interview I was very intrigued with the industry. I never realised the depth of roles required in logistics.

A whole world of opportunities spread out in front of Helen, offering everything from compliance and regulations, to analytics, project management, training and IT. Day to day, she collaborates with senior managers and business unit managers to keep risk assessments up to date, as well as contributing to education and training. A continuing challenge, but one that uses all sorts of skills for all kinds of rewards.

For Tom, logistics was once a side hustle – but now it’s a career!

“I used to work as a part time Sports Therapist for a professional football team. For additional income I joined my current company as a Warehouse Operative. After 12 months as an Operative, I joined the Graduate Scheme in Jan 2021 as an internal applicant and have now accepted a permanent position as a Shift Manager- on the same contract that I was initially an Operative!”

His knowledge of the industry stretched little further than warehousing, and it certainly wasn’t a sector he considered a future career prospect.

“Realising what opportunities existed within the sector changed my mind. These included working with cutting-edge technology, accelerated career progression and not being fixed to a location.”

He might have left the physio room and the football pitch behind, but Tom has picked up valuable skills along the way – all of which helped kick off his logistics career.

“I had confidence in leadership through my time in sports teams through school and university, as well as critical thinking from my degree – a skill that is transferable to this industry.”

These days, Tom is based at a Regional Distribution Centre for a major UK grocery retailer. He puts those leadership skills to work heading up a shift warehouse team of around 360 colleagues, giving them all the backing and tools they need to keep the supply chain running.

Samuel got his first car when he was 15, and the process of fixing it up with his dad during the lockdown, led him to consider a career as a mechanic.

“I really got into, and when I left school, that was what I decided to do”

He came in to do an interview with Kinaxia, was offered the position, and the rest is history.

“On my first day the Managing Director gave me a full tour, walked me round the workshop and warehouses and talked me through everything. I love the people I work with and the whole working environment.”

Though there’s a vast diversity of roles and opportunities in the logistics industry, at its heart the sector is about getting things from A to B. And that’s exactly what Rhys does.

‘I’m a Fuel Tanker Driver for HOYER – I deliver fuel to forecourts around the UK.’

It’s a skilled job, requiring qualifications such as an ADR in Class 3 Flammables, a PDP (Petroleum Drivers Passport), and a Class 1 Licence. So it’s no surprise that Rhys feels a sense of achievement from rising to the role at such an early stage in his career.

‘When I first got my Class 1 Licence, my goal was to end up on the fuel tankers. HOYER made that goal possible! I never expected to have that opportunity at the age of 20.’

For Rhys, an employer willing to give young people with skill and motivation a chance to succeed doesn’t just mean a job. It’s a career, and a rewarding one at that.

‘I enjoy driving, so I thought… why not get paid to do it? It’s the best thing about my role.’

Luke’s career so far has been multi-disciplined, with some time spent in education, supply chain and now in Health, Safety, Environment and Quality (HSEQ). His experience has helped him to build job and industry specific knowledge, as well as HSE capability and people skills.

In his current role as Group HSEQ & Compliance Director, Luke provides strategy and leadership for the national agenda in these specialist areas.

“This involves keeping abreast of emerging risks, and thought leadership. I challenge and influence internal and external stakeholders to apply human performance, to think differently about new ways of working in this space, both now and in the future.”

Luke was a member of NextGen, a high potential talent leadership programme at Wincanton, so when his current role was advertised internally he felt prepared and supported to go for it. And it’s with that same support from Wincanton leadership that he and his team feel able to really push the boundaries of what is possible within HSEQ.

“Wincanton is constantly innovating to bring growth opportunities to its customers, whether in productivity, efficiency, sustainability or in this case HSEQ. I knew innovation would be at the forefront of this new role and I had a clear strategy to take that growth and innovation platform forward for Wincanton.”

Luke is keen to recommend HSEQ to those looking to embark on a career in logistics, listing a degree level education, recognised HSE qualifications and some time in a relevant role as vital to finding growth opportunities, of which he’s found plenty during his time at Wincanton:

“There are a whole collection of highlights from my career so far – I feel spoiled in that respect, but being shortlisted at Wincanton for our NextGen leadership programme and then benefiting from senior leadership networking and mentoring has been very valuable.”

Every day as a Transport Team Manager is different, for Santa. Supporting the management of a team of drivers means dealing with duties as varied as reporting and managing vehicle defects, operating transport software, briefing and debriefing drivers and getting involved with recruitment and welfare.

Such variety can be challenging at times, Santa suggests:

“Working under pressure and time management skills are really important. Around Christmas time, when volume was extremely high, we were struggling for roll cages – so I spent hours contacting stores to explain the importance of getting cages returned to our depot so they could ensure stock was delivered in time for Christmas.”

But it’s not just the daily opportunities offered to learn on the job that motivates Santa. She’s also studying for a BSc in Logistics and Supply Chain Management, working on a placement year – the third year of her degree.

“I found myself captivated by the way goods and services are managed and how they impact businesses. Learning about logistics and supply chain management showed me the exciting opportunities and challenges in the field. It made me passionate about contributing to efficient operations and optimising supply chains.

I wanted to make a real impact, so I knew this was the right choice for me.”

Danny left school at 16 and dove straight into work, with the aim of forging a clear and fulfilling career path. After two years of an Aerospace apprenticeship where he gained a basic understanding of engineering practices, he decided it was time for a change.

Now as a second year apprentice at MFS, Danny says, “Coming into the logistics and refrigeration industry has been a breath of fresh air for me. I’ve always been able to take in more information and learn at a faster pace when I’m hands-on, and spending less time in the classroom.”

Danny has found that the industry and its fresh, practical way of working encourages colleagues to come out of their shells and communicate clearly, with ease.

He’s keen to highlight the skills he’s gaining while he learns, skills that he might not have recognised the value of before he made the switch.

“Being at Marshall and working alongside colleagues in the industry has enabled me to really develop my soft skills and communication, which is tremendously important when looking to develop a career. Without making the move to logistics, I don’t think I would have had the opportunity to spot that”.

As Operations Manager with the Expo & Event team at Kuehne+Nagel, Julian is a specialist in the “end to end” logistics of live events. Covering events such as concerts, the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, the FIFA World Cup, and Motorsport World Championships, he gets to travel the world delivering logistics to people of all nationalities and backgrounds.

“I like the detail, the trying to prepare for the unexpected, and finding solutions. Nothing beats the buzz of being on-site during the build up to a major sporting event and then when the lights go out, the match starts, or the curtain goes up that massive sense of achievement before having to do it all again!”

Having started in logistics straight from Sixth Form as a Trainee Airfreight Export Clerk, Julian recently found himself sitting in the jump seat on the flight deck of a Boeing 747 freighter landing in Melbourne, Australia loaded with F1 cars and equipment. Quite an experience! From his humble beginnings, he gained experience and qualifications on the job, always on the lookout for ways to grow, develop and further himself within the industry.

He spotted his current role on social media, and reached out to a manager at Kuehne+Nagel to start building a relationship. Having spent 25 years with his last employer, Julian felt it was time for a change of scenery and some new experiences.

Without the fantastic, supportive team he works with, and a great selection of clients, Julian wouldn’t get the same satisfaction from the work he does.

“We are such a diverse team and everyone brings something to the table, and everyone is listened to. A simple “thank you” from a client for a job well done is always a highlight.”

Responsibility and leadership are skills Laura Morrison can’t do without in her role as Operations Director at Wincanton. She’s accountable for eight sites, covering logistics for some of the biggest brands around – Co-op, Heinz, Weetabix and Nestle for example.

But for Laura, people always come first.

“I focus on first class health and safety, wellbeing, employee engagement, and the succession and development of every team and team member. Continuous improvement drives better operation performance, enabling our people to collaborate – all of which adds supply chain value.”

Recent qualifications in LEAD and NextGen build on comprehensive internal training and development which began when Laura joined the industry in 2004.

“As soon as I started, I knew I had found my place to be. I enjoyed the roles I had, I enjoyed the teams I worked with, and I was surrounded by great leadership teams. Logistics gave me opportunities to grow and took me out of my comfort zone.”

That sense of achievement is something we all search for in a career, but it’s not the only reward for Laura. In 2021 she also won an Every Woman award for Above and Beyond in Warehouse and Transport – a celebration of her progress and ability.

Sunnah came into logistics without really knowing what to expect; she hoped that the experience would be useful and she could build her confidence and capabilities along the way.

“My first impression of Wincanton was that everyone in the room is treated equally. It’s easy to feel intimidated when senior leaders are in the room, but it’s as easy to speak to the CEO as it is your line manager.”

The graduate scheme has seen Sunnah travel across the country, fulfilling her placement and getting a comprehensive introduction to the sector:

“I worked on an AGV project in Doncaster – which was a great experience for someone who hadn’t worked with robots before. My first placement was in Bristol as a transport manager for Howdens, then I went to Derby as a transport planner for Morrisons, and now I’m in the customer fulfilment centre for Waitrose in Greenford.”

Sunnah is revelling in the variety of the scheme and sees it as a potential positive for lots of other young people like her:

“My advice would be to not limit yourself when it comes to choosing placements, there will be many options to decide from but it’s good to go for roles that you would probably never go for!”

Ellie graduated from a marketing degree in 2020, but after landing a graduate job in Spain, her start date was delayed indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Her drive to push forwards in a graduate role she felt passionately about, and in one which offered stable employment, led her research to logistics, and to the selection of schemes on offer at Kuehne+Nagel.

“Kuehne+Nagel had different graduate programmes that I could apply for, and after reading all of the information, Contract Logistics appealed to me the most- so that’s what I applied for.”

Now on placement in Belgium, Ellie leads Continuous Improvement projects for the company’s Toyota contract, and has really enjoyed the opportunities she’s had to meet new people and visit new locations.

On her return to the UK, she’ll be working alongside the Operations Manager within the Kuehne+Nagel Pharmaceuticals warehouse, helping with day-to-day operations, customer retention and continuous improvement projects, with a focus on sustainability.

When asked what skills she brought to the job to help her excel and grow, Ellie says her communication skills and her experience of presenting have set her up well, alongside the interpersonal and problem solving credentials she continues to develop on the job.

Finding the right graduate placement can be a difficult tax – something Freddie knows all too well.

“When you are looking for grad-schemes you see a lot of bad job adverts that ask for unrealistic levels of work experience.”

But when he found a role in logistics, he liked the way the opportunity was advertised. It suited his attitude, and his skillset.

“This job advert was all about whether you have the raw skills and personality to make the job your own.”

He didn’t really know what the job was going to entail at the outset, but it certainly felt like a good connection. He liked the people he met during the recruitment process, and admired the positivity and energy of the business.

Freddie freely admits logistics isn’t always easy to explain to outsiders. His previous role in Border Compliance could draw some blank looks, though a placement in warehousing is a little more familiar. He has learnt one significant lesson though.

“It is essential to be able to connect with different types of people and to be willing to ask questions. The people you work with are your most valuable resource when starting out in this industry, so it is vital that you make the most of them.”

Meg was looking to strike a balance between continuing her studies, and getting hands-on experience in the workplace. Having initially planned doing English at University, she changed tack when she realised that a logistics degree apprenticeship with the DHL renewals excellence team would offer her the combination she wanted.

“My line manager Kelly is extremely supportive and together we try to align my studies to my practice, so that it becomes more relevant. I’m studying for a business management degree and I’ve found modules like economics and leadership really useful in the workplace.”

Her role is all about driving efficiencies across the DHL network, but for Meg the best bit is the support she gets from those she works with.

“I’m getting a degree I’m interested in, workplace experience and a good wage at the same time. And on top of that I get to work with a team that are incredible and have done nothing but support me since the day I started.

“I feel like DHL is really invested in young people.”

Elizabeth started at Kuehne+Nagel straight out of University, taking up a Graduate Internship on the recommendation of a family member:

“I was always quite analytical and organised, with a keen interest in politics – which might not sound like something you associate with logistics, but actually proved incredibly useful for customs in navigating changes to the market brought about by Brexit.”

Elizabeth worked through a number of different roles at the company before settling into her current role as a Customs Implementations Manager.

“I’ve loved working for the business ever since I started. My current role involves implementing new customs brokerage contracts, liaising with customers, data gathering and ensuring smooth handovers into our operational teams.” 

“I started my maternity leave at the end of March 2022 and was out of the business for a total of 9 months. I was initially nervous at taking so much time out. However, my management team have been incredibly supportive to ensure my smooth transition back into the business. It is definitely a struggle to find a new balance between working full time and caring for a little one at home, however I am really happy and proud to be reclaiming my working identity.”

Her career highlight was a successful Brexit Implementation Project, which helped the whole Keuhne+Nagel EU-UK adjust to a post-Brexit working model.

Gurkiran left school at 18, with GCSEs and A-levels. She headed to university to study teaching, but after her first year decided it wasn’t the career she was looking for. She set out on a search to find something she enjoyed and gave her the job satisfaction she wanted.

After finding her role at DHL, which allows her to not only work but also study for an apprenticeship as she goes, she’s keen to stress that logistics, and specifically Operations, might be more than meets the eye.

“I cannot stress enough that operations isn’t a scary world, it’s just different to the office world, but it is equally as challenging and fun. It’s not just made for those who don’t want to study, it’s made for everyone!”

Speaking honestly, Gurkiran admits that she went into her role thinking logistics, and linehaul, were just trucks and trailers, but she quickly found out that there’s a lot more to it than that.

“My apprenticeship and job combined teaches me life skills that no university could have: communication, honesty and teamwork. And throughout my time at DHL, they’ve been the three pillars to push me further in my career, and within my team.”

Gurkiran worked part time in the Network Control Group for three years, working across various projects, and in the central departing and arriving of material operation for the Ops team. She then took an opportunity to move into the Linehaul team to be the AM Operations Supervisor, growing her knowledge of Linehaul, and the world of trucks and trailers. Despite feeling a little intimidated at first, she quickly found her feet.

“I opened my eyes to a whole new world of working, and a new working environment which I found so enjoyable on a day-to-day basis, especially in seasonal peak periods.”

She completed her apprenticeship during her time as a supervisor, and it boosted her confidence knowing she had developed the skills to be the best manager she could be.
She channeled her elevated confidence into her application for the AM Transport Manager role which she’s been succeeding in, and loving, ever since.

“DHL is such a big company and I’ve been lucky enough to have the opportunity to learn about the operational business on a large scale. One of my best achievements has been gaining my apprenticeship qualification in Level 5 Operations / Departmental Manager, which has equipped me to do the job I am doing, and prepare me for future managerial roles within the business.”

“I lead Wincanton’s innovation programme, W2. It’s dedicated to advancing progress in the logistics sector by promoting collaboration with external partners, start-ups and internal colleagues, to develop digital technology-based products that enhance customer value in both the present and the future.”

As Head of Innovation, Claire also runs and develops Wincanton’s Innovation Centre, an inspiring hub that showcases technology solutions and hosts customers, partners, colleagues, investors and community groups. In its first 18 months, it welcomed over 3,500 visitors.

Claire joined the logistics sector as a graduate in 1998, and has worked in a variety of roles over the past 25 years, starting as a transport planner, then regional transport planner, before moving on to roles in business development, sales and solution design. Her wide experience, along with her thirst for new ideas and collaboration made her the perfect candidate to lead the innovation programme.

With no typical day in her role, Claire says its variety and people that keeps her enthusiastic. She relishes a role where she feels she can make a difference.
“I love the diversity and challenge of my role, I am a massive people person so I feel very fortunate to work with such talented colleagues across the Wincanton business as well as working with start-ups and suppliers from across the globe to create new solutions for our customers.”

Claire particularly enjoys working on innovation which she believes will transform the future of the sector, making people’s lives easier and the world a better place.

Opening Wincanton’s Innovation Centre has been a career highlight for Claire, having had the honour of leading the project for Wincanton all the way from concept to design to delivery.

“I managed to embrace everything from budgeting and project management, to video editing, to agreeing technical construction drawings, to storyboarding the city of the future, to choosing a coffee machine and paint colours!”

From playing sport in his youth, Tristan knew that he excelled within team environments.

Once he had completed his A-Levels he began to look for roles that might suit him. Logistics wasn’t an obvious choice, but once he found it, it was all systems go:

“Originally I joined DHL through a temp agency. Since then I have networked well to understand available opportunities within our business.”

Tristan enjoyed building relationships with clients, and the challenge of delivering against complex contracts – something typified by his career highlight on a project at London Heathrow Airport:

“After working to solve our operational challenges, I worked with our customer to support them with theirs. We ended up tendering for the full contract, which saw the revenue grow from £5m to £23m.”

“My role is an exciting one, in which I get the opportunity to work alongside some of the largest retailers in the UK, and support them with ways to improve their International supply chains.”

Lee’s focus is on understanding those retailers’ needs, then looking into the data, working with internal and external stakeholders, and project managing, before presenting solutions and tracking the benefits. His role demands a variety of skills, including consultative selling, problem solving, data analysis and visualisation, as well as both account and project management.

Lee worked his way up to his current role from trainee planner, and he values analysis, problem solving, logical thinking and a drive to deliver as his strongest professional assets.

When the job came up internally, Lee was quick to jump on an opportunity to learn and develop within the Sea Logistics International Supply Chain team. His main attraction to the role was the support he could give customers with their goals and targets, helping to solve problems that are causing them to lose sleep at night.

“I left college with not great A-levels and went straight into manual labour. I ended up working on a land based drilling rig. Working in this environment taught me a level of resilience, and problem solving – even though it wasn’t through data – was still massively present. On the rig with limited resources it amazed me that if something broke down, certain members of the team could fix it to ensure the job continued – through their experience and knowledge.”

It wasn’t until working in the office on that rig that Lee learned what logistics was. The logistics lead took him under their wing to show him how things worked operationally, and the rest is history.

Growing up in a rural community, Lee was always searching for opportunities to discover and learn new things. He’s forever grateful for the doors logistics has opened for him, and the ones still up ahead.

“Every day is so different, and I get to work with amazing colleagues, and customers who provide challenges for us to solve collaboratively.”

Following a product’s life cycle, and its journey from an order being placed, to that product being produced on the other side of the world, shipped, and then transported to the warehouse, is something Lee is fascinated by: “How we can influence the end customer experience by changing something 5,992+ miles away is incredible.”

Lee was part of the Regional Talent Programme at Kuehne + Nagel, and was one of 100 colleagues across Europe identified for their high performance.

“This was something I never thought I would get to take part in as I have never seen myself as a high performer. I just love the world of logistics!”

Simon is the Regional Freight Manager for Network Rail’s Southern Freight Team, one of the five teams that cover freight operations across the national network. Working alongside operators and customers, his focus is on safety, operations, performance and business development.

For Simon, every day in his role is different: “I could be invited to the Houses of Parliament one day, dressed in full PPE at a freight terminal in the driving rain the next, and then visiting a signalling centre the following day.”

He found the role through searching Network Rail’s jobs portal in 2020, when the freight industry was rebounding from the first COVID-19 lockdown. At a time of such uncertainty, working in a growth area of the rail industry was appealing, and something he felt excited about.

“I’m also passionate about tackling climate change and rail’s role in doing that, so this job, working on encouraging a shift to rail as a more sustainable form of freight transport, looked absolutely ideal.”

Having worked in rail operations, infrastructure planning and the tourism industry before, Simon has found that his experience has given him a huge breadth of knowledge and skills, many of which help him every day to understand and draw together multiple stakeholders to work towards their shared common goals.

And recently, Simon got to complete his career highlight to date, in helping a customer to open a new freight terminal on a long dormant section of rail infrastructure that was last used before he was born!