Tsey-Yin Chan, University of Huddersfield, Graduate of 2021

I chose logistics after stumbling upon a chance email with the title ‘Guaranteed Jobs after Placement’. During this time, I was at a pivotal decision between going to University or going into an apprenticeship. NOVUS was the perfect scheme to join, as it offered me the best of both worlds in terms of gaining higher education, whilst prioritising work experience and job prospects after graduating. Despite not having the typical background for logistics as I mainly did my A-Levels in Art, my creativity was still a valuable attribute in the logistics profession. I was able develop innovative strategies and work on amazing projects during my time at PZ Cussons, including managing a £200k portfolio on this third-year placement. As a key worker during the COVID-19 pandemic, I worked on critical lines such as Carex Hand-gel and Imperial bar-soap during peak demand. In addition to this, I partially transitioned into the Customer Services team as a Customer Services Coordinator. Within this role, I was responsible for managing the deliveries of Carex to front-line workers and vulnerable people, as part of PZ Cusson’s donations to Age UK and many other charities. Being responsible for multiple key accounts and processing record-breaking orders, my placement gave me the skills to work under pressure, as I was simultaneously managing my Supply Planning duties during my time in Customer Services. 

This placement would not have been made possible without the connections to the sector that NOVUS provided. I was treated as a real employee and given more responsibility, which I would’ve expected to be given to more senior employees, but I was regarded as a full employee during the year and thus received recognition as such. After my challenging and incredible year on placement, I will be returning to my studies in final year with an enlightened mindset and a solid professional network. I feel that this will definitely come into use when I graduate, as I hope to obtain a graduate scheme with one of our sponsors but with the experience I have had; I am confident that this will be desirable to external graduate employers as well. 

My affinity with logistics lies in the fact that I am able to work flexibly and respond to situations quickly. This, combined with my creativity, enables me to generate unique strategies with results, driven by my skillset. I enjoy working with a range of people and thrive off continuous improvement; something which is deeply ingrained in Supply Chain and Logistics. I have no doubts that my skills have been beneficial to my career but one of the many benefits that NOVUS has also given me is my mentor, Matt Parkin from DHL. Matt stepped into being my mentor just in time for my final year of University and has been paramount to my continued success in logistics. His expertise and genuine support has been endless and has motivated me to reach new heights. The quality of the scheme is not exclusive to my mentor but also to the support within the NOVUS network. Bethany Windsor is an exceptional member of the NOVUS team and is always on hand to support our career decisions as well as our journey within logistics. My advice to any potential candidates if they wished to have a career in logistics, would be to truly invest in the field. NOVUS is an excellent starting point; however, much of the journey will be based on your individual capabilities and drive. If you are prepared to commit to hard work, adaptability and continuous improvement, you will have a promising career in logistics. Good luck!