Name: Rachel Beeken
Current role: Logistics Manager, Crewe Depot
Degree and university: BA in History, Leeds University
Joined Gist: 2001

My progression within Gist to become part of the senior management team really proves the company’s commitment to developing people.

I’ve been working for Gist for nearly seven years, having joined the company straight after completing a BA degree at Leeds University.

Why did I join Gist?

I was attracted to the company as I could see it had a huge variety of opportunities on offer and would allow me to experience all elements of logistics.

My Accelerate scheme experience

Whilst I was on the Accelerate scheme, I completed three placements covering a wide variety of areas including warehousing, transport and business development, which gave me a good flavour of what the company does.

What am I doing now?

Since completing the graduate scheme I’ve experienced first-line and middle-management roles within both warehousing and transport, allowing me to develop a broad range of technical skills and improve my leadership abilities.

More recently I’ve been offered the exciting opportunity of taking up the role of Logistics Manager at our Marks and Spencer depot in Crewe. In this role I am part of the site’s senior-management team and I am responsible for the whole transport team including the transport managers and 128 full-time drivers. This role will be an fantastic challenge and a great opportunity to experience all aspects of the department, from planning strategies for moving the department forward and controlling our budget to leading and developing the team.

A final word from Rachel…

My progression within Gist to become part of the Senior management team really proves the company’s commitment to developing people – they will give people lots of responsibility early on in their careers if you can prove you have the talent & ambition to take on the challenge.