General Manager: Mark Boulton

How long have you been working in your current role?

4 years

Which company do you work for and what do they do?

TDG Contract Logistics, they are a 3rd Party Logistics (3PL) supplier providing a wide range of supply chain services to blue chip clients throughout Europe.

What does your job involve in a typical day?

I manage a number of Accounts on behalf of TDG; these are in the Automotive and Industrial sectors based across 3 sites in the South West. My role concerns the entire relationship with each Customer, including commercial terms and pricing, agreeing annual budgets, tendering for new business and of course the delivery of excellent service through my operations teams.

I meet regularly with customers amd visit operational sites to see how we are achieving our key performance indicators (KPI's) and discuss with the team on how we can improve our service and profitability.

I spend a lot of time reading reports and analysing data, there is a great emphasis placed on finance and I am totally accountable for the financial performance of my business unit. I also meet regularly with our main suppliers and negotiate terms for the purchase and hire of new equipment (fork lift trucks, tractor units, trailers, etc.).

I support the central business development function in working on solutions for new customers. Health and Safety plays a big part in my job and I review all H&S minutes from each site. I am also responsible for the development of my team, I meet with my managers to discuss performance and look at what training we need to deliver to team members to enable them to not only fulfil their roles but provide them with new skills so they can advance their careers.

How did you get into your current job, and what were you doing before?

I have been working in Logistics for 20 years and have worked my way up from being a warehouse operative. I have worked for several different companies and have moved job to broaden my experience.

What qualifications did you need for the job?

Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) National and International, plus a good standard of education.

What do you like most about your job?

No two days are the same! I enjoy meeting lots of different people from drivers to directors; everyone has their part to play.

What is your advice to people looking for a job in logistics?

If you would like to enjoy a management career in Logistics it is now more important to have a good education and a relevant degree. Experience is still important but employers are now more and more focused on looking for graduates to fill management positions.

What do you see as your next step?

Managing larger business units.