Logistics Stories

Currently a Property Manager for St Modwen, Isabelle manages health and safety and risk mitigation, attends site meetings, and manages complaints. She looks after 130 units and 22 properties in total.

Isabelle was approached by a former manager about her role, who encouraged her to apply. She felt attracted to the opportunity it presented because of St Modwen’s good reputation in the market, and with her husband currently serving in the military, the work life balance, friendly feel and flexibility of the role really appealed to her. 

Having trained for a Masters in Estate Management, and as an active member of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, Isabelle knew she had the relevant qualifications, but she also had some previous experience in warehouses.

“I felt the logistics industry would give me a stable career with some good growth and development opportunities in the future.”

She enjoys the variety her role brings and the fact that every day presents a new challenge. She feels that working in logistics keeps her on her toes, and ensures she’s learning new skills. For example, Isabelle was given the opportunity to undertake a RICS qualification whilst on the job, and was absolutely delighted when she passed, first time. 

After they found his details on LinkedIn, the recruitment team at St Modwen contacted Rawa directly to apply for his position. The rotational aspect of the role, with a chance to get a taste for each department really appealed to him, along with the opportunity to study for his Masters whilst on the job.

Rawa thrives on the diversity of life as a graduate in logistics, with responsibilities that range from working on investments and transactions, and dealing with the underwriters for new acquisitions, all the way to getting out on-site to meet and greet customers, and carrying out inspections.

“I’ve enjoyed being involved in challenging projects from Day One, and being trusted with a great deal of responsibility.”

Rawa has relished the opportunity to undertake development appraisals, assessing the development potential of smaller sites and considering their planning prospects and development costs. Coming up with a potential masterplan and development strategy is a task which offers him satisfaction and fulfilment in his work. 

Some of Rawa’s highlights since entering the industry have been the opportunities he’s had to visit logistics sites across the UK, getting to grips with operations in the exciting, fast-moving world of logistics, before going home and applying the skills and practices he’s seen in action to his own work.

Earlier this year, he had the chance to visit Segro East Midlands Gateway with Generation Logistics, where he was given a tour of DHL’s new unit: 

“As someone who works in the development side of things, it was really interesting to see the automated pallet operations in such a huge unit, and to understand how occupiers make use of their space.”

Whilst some come to logistics with skills and qualifications gained through previous study and work experience in different sectors, others choose our industry to be their route in to a career for life.

Kailan, a Finance Apprentice at St Modwen, is a great example of the latter. All his role requires is an accountancy and taxation qualification. The rest is learning on the job, becoming exposed to real business and real opportunities to progress outside of a purely academic setting.

The spark of interest, for Kailan, came whilst studying at university. “I was asked to research the role of the supply chain, which exposed me to understanding the importance logistics has in business.”

Learning on the job has its benefits, too. “My favourite aspect? I love that every day presents me with different challenges. It means I’ve had an opportunity to gain an understanding of the industry, and to widen my knowledge and skills by not limiting it to purely accounting practices.”

A role with variety, the opportunity to progress and the chance to gain experience of real world business. Who could argue with that kind of career path?