Building a career within Logistics

What started as a temporary role for Lena has become a rewarding career shaped by development, new experiences and the confidence to take on every next challenge.

How and why did you first join Co-op Logistics?

I've been with Co-op for 15 years now. I'd only been in the UK for a short time when I joined, but I knew a few people who worked here and they all spoke really positively about Co-op and the culture.

I started on a temporary contract and quickly realised how much I enjoyed the role and the people around me. When the opportunity came up to stay permanently, I didn't hesitate. It gave me the stability I was looking for, but it also turned out to be the start of a career that's given me so many opportunities to learn, grow and try new things.

How have you grown and progressed your career at Co-op?

I spent around 8 years working as a Warehouse Operative across different departments and shifts. I've always been curious and keen to learn, so whenever there was a chance to develop a new skill or gain experience somewhere different, I took it.

One of my proudest achievements was becoming one of the first women forklift truck drivers at the depot. It was a big moment for me and gave me the confidence to keep pushing myself.

Later, I completed my HGV Class 2 apprenticeship and moved into an LGV Driver role. Working in what can sometimes be a male-dominated environment felt daunting at first, but I loved being out on the road and quickly grew in confidence.

A few years later, I was offered the opportunity to become a Driver Assessor at our new distribution centre in Biggleswade. It was a chance to be part of launching a brand-new site and support colleagues as they prepared for opening day. Looking back, it was a brilliant experience and one that taught me a lot.

Although I enjoyed my time there, I knew I wanted to be closer to the countryside. Through the people I met and the opportunities that came my way, my journey eventually brought me to Newhouse, where I'm based today.

What opportunities have you had since?

One of the things I value most about Co-op is that there are always opportunities to learn and develop if you're willing to put yourself forward.

I joined the Manhattan system implementation team on secondment, helping to roll out a new operational system across our depots. It was completely different to anything I'd done before and gave me the chance to work with new teams, travel to different locations and build relationships with colleagues from across the business.

It was a steep learning curve at times, but that's what made it so rewarding.

During that secondment, I also applied for a development programme designed to support women into management roles. Only four women from across the logistics network were selected, so I felt incredibly proud to be involved.

The programme gave me a huge amount of confidence and helped create conversations around how we can support more women to progress in logistics. It's been great to see initiatives like the Women in Logistics apprenticeship programme develop and help open doors for others too.

So, what's next?

The development programme gave me the confidence to apply for a Warehouse Team Manager role, which I was delighted to secure permanently in May 2025.

Since then, I've moved into Transport, which feels like a return to my driver roots. What I enjoy most is the variety. Every day is different and there's always a new challenge to get stuck into.

Having worked as a driver myself helps me build strong relationships with my team because I understand the day-to-day reality of the role. That understanding helps me support colleagues in the right way and hopefully make a positive difference to their experience at work.

I've always enjoyed being involved in change and finding better ways of doing things, so change management is something I'd love to explore in the future. For now, though, I'm really happy where I am, working with great people, in a place I love, and looking forward to whatever comes next in my Co-op journey.