An apprenticeship with DFDS seemed like the ideal first step towards a dream job elsewhere, and after some research he became very excited to apply. Arnold had set his sights on a data-related role, but after dropping out of university and moving home to a small town, he thought his options were limited. “I hadn’t considered a career in logistics before I saw the apprenticeship posting, although once I had done some research into the industry, I realised the immense possibilities. I didn’t know what to expect, but I can say now that the industry is very friendly and welcoming, everyone has similar goals, and the opportunities are growing.” Arnold’s role involves capturing data from available sources to verify, analyse and report his findings. His work makes everyday processes more efficient and brings him a lot of satisfaction. “There was a complex process a department was doing every week that took one person over a day to complete. I created a tool for them, and this process now takes under two minutes.” Having already completed many informal courses on the job, all funded by DFDS, Arnold is keen to expand his learning. He’s energised and excited by the prospects that working in logistics offers. “Logistics is a key industry worldwide and will always exist, it is becoming highly innovative with new technology and seems to be getting more recognition for its importance. It is a very safe and beneficial choice for a long-term career; once you are established, the possibilities of both horizontal and vertical career growth are endless.”

Every day as Head of Warehousing is different, for Dawid. Supporting the management of multiple cold store warehouses, responsible for a large number of staff and tens of thousands of pallets. Dawid originally started at DFDS as Stock Control Supervisor. Although his previous roles all had elements of stock control, he didn’t expect to work in an industry like logistics. “The opportunities are endless within logistics; since I first started, I worked my way up from there. Having had various job roles and titles from Administration Manager looking after dispatch, admin, and stock control teams before taking the opportunity to work as Head of Warehousing.” “The best part of my role is that every day is different. I can make informed decisions through looking at the numbers, making sure everything tallies up and is profitable for our business. However, my favourite part of my role is being able to give and receive ongoing training. I love being able to learn from others and watch my team’s journeys through DFDS.” Since being with DFDS, Dawid has been able to turn around a site which wasn’t profitable and making loss. After 3 years at the Liverpool cold store, he has been able to turn the situation around resulting in over £1 million profit. “I am very proud of the team and what we have accomplished, no one could have expected that. We have been able to incorporate working collaboratively rather than individuals. DFDS has provided so many opportunities to myself and our way of working.” “If you are considering a career in logistics, do it. It can be very challenging at times; every day provides you with a new experience. There are so many opportunities within the sector, its future proof. If I had the opportunity to go back in time and make any changes to my career path, I wouldn’t, I would make every decision over and over again.”

There aren’t many career choices that can match logistics for breadth of experience and opportunity. That’s certainly been Esther’s experience, who joined DFDS as a Graduate Management Trainee. “DFDS business is very broad with ferry and logistics divisions. I was attracted to how the placements were structured – four placements of six months across different areas provide an opportunity to learn so much within two years.” Those placements have already taken Esther, who’s first contact with logistics was working for a construction company in Uganda, to towns and cities across the UK and Ireland. “This gives me fresh perspectives on life. But most importantly helps me meet new people, explore new cities whilst working in a job that has lots to offer. The programme also has development days where I get to meet the larger graduate community while having fun.” But it’s not all about exploration. Esther has been benefitting from the kind of personal connections that help build strong skills and lasting careers. “Having a dedicated mentor with many years of experience is one of the things I enjoy most about my role. They give me wisdom from their experience that I need to help me advance.

Feeling valued and part of an organisation that cares for the work we do is a key aspect of how we achieve our goals. Working on the operational side of our business John Stobart didn’t always intend to become a Class 1 HGV Driver after originally qualifying as a Mechanical Engineer! “I am a mechanical engineer by trade, although I quickly left that career path after finishing my apprenticeship. My father and grandfather were truck drivers all their lives and I have always been fascinated by trucks and the transport industry, and one way or another I’ve always had a hand in it. Due to some sudden unexpected changes with a company, I was project managing for on their product development, I was made redundant and decided to pursue my ambition of being a trucker.” John’s role involves transporting a wide range of cargo from modular buildings to bridges. He has always wanted to work for DFDS and feels he has been given the opportunity to apply problem solving skills and exceed expectations.