Samuel Richardson, University of Huddersfield, graduate of 2019

I always knew I wanted to study something business-orientated and it soon became apparent to me that nearly every organisation depends on logistics. Being able to specialise logistics into a business related degree was a great opportunity for me. The NOVUS scheme was able to offer me something other courses could not….experience! NOVUS gave me opportunities to go out and gain that expertise in logistics with their summer placement scheme and third year in industry. The background I now have in logistics allows my CV to stand out from the rest.

After a successful first year at the University of Huddersfield, I was able to secure a paid summer placement at Arla Foods as an Inbound Transport Clerk. From here, I was able to witness the whole of the supply chain, from its raw material stage, all the way through to the end consumer. What’s great about the summer placement is that it gave me relevant experience in the logistics profession, allowing me to stand out when it came to applying for my year in industry. 

I have just finished my industry year with Sainsbury’s, where I spent six months based in Basingstoke as a Warehouse Team Manager. Understanding how a large-scale distribution site ran its operation on a day-to-day basis, whilst applying what I had learnt in lectures into real life scenarios, was extremely beneficial. Warehouse management systems and CPM tools became the norm and gaining genuine management experience of up to 20/30 colleagues at a time was something some students couldn’t achieve on other courses. I then became part of the implementation team, where I took the role of Project Support Manager, implementing a new yard management system into 18 depots. This role really allowed me to develop my people management skills, as change is always a company’s biggest challenge. By the time I left, I had people, project and system management experience, all at the age of 21.

After graduation I would like to be able to secure a role in the logistics sector with a company that can offer me great development opportunities. After having a taste of transport, warehousing and project based work, I really don’t mind what avenue of logistics I take! Whilst on NOVUS, I have developed into a confident and dynamic supply chain student that enjoys challenges and working with others to take responsibility. With the logistics profession having so many different avenues to explore, I feel this sector can help me develop into a successful young professional.