Kate
Demand Planner, Nestlé UK
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After graduating I applied for a temporary role in a healthcare company, working in supply chain. The rest, you could say, is history. I saw the Nestlé scheme advertised on a graduate recruitment site and it ticked all of the boxes – but the main pull was the opportunity to gain experience and exposure quickly.
My career here began in the Beverage division, where I was responsible for the forecasting of several coffee products. I also collaborated with a major retailer, looking at promotions and new lines. I then spent six months in Purchasing, managing contractual demands for nuts and seeds, and ensuring European buyers had the information that they needed to negotiate UK contracts. My final placement was in the York warehouse – here I worked as a Team Leader. I worked shifts and gained a real appreciation for the skill involved in the operational side of logistics.
I now work for Purina as the ASDA demand planner and work in ASDA's head office for four days per week. I get the opportunity to develop the supply chain relationship between the two businesses. Things move at the pace of the customer, which can be incredibly fast. I deal with completely different scenarios everyday, using lots of analysis in order to forecast the future. The exposure is incredible. You jump in at the deep end but the business is incredibly supportive in helping you find your feet.
I work in a fast moving, growing company that values and develops its employees and gives something back. I feel very proud to be part of it. To give other grads some advice: take your time, and ask all the questions that you can think of. Finally, have fun and take opportunities to mingle with people in all parts of the business. You never know where they will be in five or 10 years' time – you could be asking them for a role. Come to think of it, they could be asking you.
Kate studied Performing Arts and Music at Middlesex University.
