N2O Insights

Spotlight on: Logistics

As we all know, people are what make a company. Today we're focusing on our fantastic in-house Logistics department who work tirelessly behind the scenes making sure the brand experiences actually see the light of day!

Kevin Nield, our Senior Logistics Manager, gives us an insight into the ins and outs of what his team get up to day to day….

What Does Your Department Do?

The logistics department picks & packs campaigns then dispatch the famous blue boxes to store, but of course it is not always as straightforward as that.

How Do You Do It?

Before the warehouse can dispatch, we have to prepare the following:

· Check all receipts for quantity and quality.

· Barcode over sticker the stock.

· Count and prepare the consumables.

· Fulfil any fulfilment requirements.

· Prepare the uniform in size order.

· Print documentation.

· Pack and seal the boxes.

· Prepare and print the store notices.

· Input and print the consignment labels.

· Label all boxes and palletise ready for collection.

· Load the courier vehicles.

· Check on pods and chase where necessary.

The logistics department work closely with the Campaign Management team to ensure that dispatch deadlines are met so that all elements arrive instore in plenty of time for the activation.

What Does Your Role Involve?

My role as Senior Logistics Manager is to oversee the whole Logistics operation in Colnbrook and Manchester, to ensure that the Team Leaders have the correct amount of resource to be able to perform their duties in a safe working environment. Another part of my role is to control costs, ensure that health & safety standards are met and maintained and look after the environment by looking at ways that we can become more sustainable as a company.

How Long Have You Been At N2O?

6 years and 6 Months

What Was Your Route To N2O?

I have been in logistics since I left school (last century) starting off as a transport clerk at the tender age of 16, after a few years I moved to a transport and warehouse company Gibbs & Ball in Dartford as a warehouse operative, after a few years I worked my way up and at the age of 23 was promoted to warehouse manager, I was then seconded to run the largest warehouse in Europe for Tate & Lyle which was based in Silvertown, this had a maximum capacity to store 14,000 pallets. After 15 years the Tate & Lyle contract came to an end, I decided that I needed a new challenge, that was to come in the form of working for Contact Transport a Birmingham based company who had opened a office in Heathrow, my remit was to grow this operation, after a few years we won contracts with DX, Amazon and UPS, these all fell under my remit to oversee, eventually the UPS contract grow so big that the company decided to close the Heathrow office and asked me to concentrate on running the UPS contract, which was for a fleet of 70 vehicles and 90 drivers and loading staff, but his was based in Southampton, after a few years of travelling to and throw very early starts and late finishes I decided that enough was enough and I need some quality of life with a young family, so I handed in my notice and within 3 weeks I was at N2O, even though as you can see I have managed some large operations N2O was a completely different challenge which I have and continue to enjoy immensely, the Senior management team and all the staff are fantastic.

What Piece Of Advice Would You Give Somebody Who’s Just Joined The Business?

Keep asking questions it does not matter how minor, as I say at my inductions the only stupid question is the one that you do not ask.

There are a lot of very talented people at N2O who are all more than willing to give advice.

Your Most Satisfying Project So Far And Why?

Every week has its challenges but seeing the large number of boxes leave the warehouse packed and ready for delivery is satisfying, after seeing all the hard work the team put in preparing and packing the boxes.