Kate - Demand Planner
After graduating in 2003 with a Performing Arts and Music degree (!), I sort of fell into supply chain. I worked for a health care firm for two years. They were a small company but that gave me good experience and confidence to apply to a large company like Nestlé.
I joined Nestlé in June 2005 in a temporary role before starting the graduate scheme that September. It was a big move and I didn’t know anyone but it did not take long. The people are incredible, throughout the different departments. One of the most reassuring things for me was that many people that I came across had started at some point in a new place with people that they didn’t know. Everyone was a beginner once and they really put me at ease and helped me into my first few weeks.
The best part of being on the scheme is the experience that you gain and the exposure that brings. You have a real opportunity to make your mark in just a six month placement. I have had the opportunity to work at completely different ends of the supply chain with completely different people. My roles were as a Demand Planner, then within the Purchasing department and finally as a Team Leader in the Warehouse in York. I felt very involved in my own path and the placements that I did. If you know what you want to do then you can shout about it which is great. However, if you have no idea then there is a huge network of people to guide and support you in finding what is right for you.
I now work as the Asda Demand Planner for Nestlé Purina which is the Pet food business within Nestlé. It is a growing industry which makes it really exciting to work in. It is fast paced, and can be demanding but is extremely rewarding. The focus on achievement is key, and there is constant feedback to both support you and to help you shape constructive goals for the future. My role involves visiting Asda in Leeds almost weekly, and collaborating with them on all elements of the forecast to make sure that we are completely aligned. The wider Asda team in Purina is also 100% collaborative so I sit with my commercial colleagues and we discuss all changes and fully agree to the forecast before it goes into the system. The fact that we are the only team for Asda in Purina UK means that we have 100% ownership, and therefore responsibility for the Asda number. This definitely ticks all of my boxes, and most importantly is incredibly good fun.
