This year for National Lorry Week, we’re celebrating the skills, careers and opportunities that play a vital role in the road transport industry. Though not typically an industry many graduates consider once completing their degree, Pall-Ex Group has been trying to combat this issue and raise awareness of the variety of roles available by launching its Graduate Management Trainee scheme two years ago, bringing a new outlook and fresh perspectives to this dynamic sector.
After being the first to complete the scheme, Jordan Hodgson has now progressed into a new position at Pall-Ex Group, the scheme allowing him to experience a range of departments and see how they all work together to keep the wheels turning.
We spoke to him to find out more about how the scheme supported his professional development and how it influenced his career goals going forward…
1. What is your new role at Pall-Ex Group?
I work as a Regional Support Manager for Pall-Ex Logistics, Pall-Ex Group’s subsidiary company that operates across five depots in the South of England.
2. What does this involve?
My role is to support the teams at our five owned operations and work with the General Managers to enhance their day-to-day processes, achieving KPI targets and improving compliance levels. A lot of this new role involves providing training for key personnel, so they understand what is required and how to achieve these goals, as well as encouraging a sense of competition between our sites so they provide the best service for our customers.
I also support the Pall-Ex Logistics Director, Colin Hawkins, with ongoing projects at each of the locations to further improve the service we provide.
3. What led you to this role? How was your experience as a Graduate Management Trainee?
My time as a Graduate Management Trainee offered me the chance to work in different areas of the business, including commercial, sales, compliance and our owned operations. By experiencing many different roles at the company, I was able to piece my individual experiences together to develop a strong knowledge of the company and its functions. I enjoyed my time working with the owned operations, so the Regional Support Manager position seemed like a logical step to further my career.
Having a structured plan and knowledgeable mentors, alongside training through Pall-Ex Group’s LEAP for Leaders programme, aided my progression and gave me a well-rounded view of the business.
I would encourage any graduates unsure of where they want their career to take them to consider a job in logistics, specifically Pall-Ex Group’s Graduate Management Trainee scheme. It has opened doors for me that I had never previously considered and provided fast-paced learning with opportunities to gain experience in each area of the business.
4. What experiences and skills were you able to take from working across various departments that will benefit you in your role going forward?
I had a range of experiences, from overcoming operational challenges on a day-to-day basis to helping our network members produce price analysis for prospective customers.
I was trusted with important tasks, such as launching HubSpot to our internal sales teams, allowing me to develop my project management, communication and time management skills.
5. What qualities do you think are most important in your role?
I’m going to be able to draw on all the training and experience I’ve had to date to be successful and make a meaningful impact in my new role.