How my Journey Began
I originally left school not knowing what career path I wanted to follow. The only thing I knew was that I was seeking a role that was interesting, challenging, involved problem solving and most importantly, I loved doing.
In November 2020 I started at PG Paper as an apprentice administrator, working within a fast-paced working environment daily. The job involved learning about various business processes and applying them to real-life situations, as well as supporting our operational teams with administrative tasks. Joining the PG team really appealed to me, as I had heard all about their success and achievements over the years. I also really admired their values and company goals, as they resonated a lot with how I thought of myself.
As my apprenticeship progressed, I started to become more involved with the logistics team, assisting them with small tasks such as documentation and filing. As I began to work closely with the team, I progressively became more interested in the field, which is how I eventually set my eyes on becoming a Logistics Co-Ordinator. It was strange, as when I started my apprenticeship with PG several months before this, I had no idea what the field of logistics even was.
Why I Wanted to Work in Logistics
I think what drew me to wanting to work in logistics was the increasing complexity of the logistics environment, the fact that no day is the same and getting the opportunity to work with various departments within the company. For example, we have to gather information about suppliers from the procurement team regularly, as well as update the Finance team on the status of orders and payments.
Working in logistics can be very challenging but at the same time very rewarding, which is why I knew I wanted to follow this career path. Logistics requires you to be calm under pressure and it can be a stressful environment to work in at times, however, it all seems worth it with the job satisfaction you often receive.
We recently worked on a project which involved sending charitable donations to Poland for Ukrainian refugees. Being assigned a task involving humanitarian aid was a new experience for the PG logistics team, therefore we had to carry out a great deal of research beforehand. In the end, we successfully delivered the donations to Ukraine and knowing you had made even a small difference to help people in need was a feeling like no other.
The Step from Apprentice to Logistics Co-Ordinator
The jump from being a modern apprentice to logistics coordinator was very intense at first. This was a brand-new experience for me and I had a lot to learn to get up to speed with the rest of our experienced team.
Despite this, I thrived under the pressure of the challenge and as I progressed, I started to learn more about the field. I particularly enjoyed learning about the different types of documentation that were required, such as Certificate of Origins and EUR1s. I also loved learning about all of the various orders and incoterms such as FOB, CFR, Ex-works etc. Each order is handled differently, so it is important to understand the processes that should be followed.
Since starting with PG Paper, the whole team has been so supportive and crucial to my growth and development. I am thankful for the opportunities they have provided me with, from putting me through my apprenticeship to offering me various courses and webinars to help me progress within the role I am in today. There is still so much to learn within the world of logistics and I am eager to improve on my knowledge within the sector.