Creating a career path in distribution at Coca-Cola Europacific Partners

Created by VERCIDA for Coca-Cola Europacific Partners

 

Natalie Hardwick started with CCEP as a forklift-driving novice, but now she is keen to pass on her knowledge to newcomers.

 

 

I come from a performing background – my first job was at Disneyland Paris. I worked within the parade and shows department and basically got paid to dance around, perform and make an idiot of myself. It was fantastic. After that, I had an array of jobs, working in a casino, a supermarket and before I joined CCEP in January 2022, I was a postal worker for Royal Mail.

When I decided it was time for a change, I started looking online at all sorts of jobs. When I saw the warehouse technician operative job at CCEP advertised, it looked like it was too good to miss, so I went for it. Full training would be provided, which really appealed to me, because I had never driven a forklift. So many warehouse job adverts ask for previous experience or a forklift license, so this was a great opportunity to learn to do something I’d never done before.

I came in as an absolute novice, so I had to learn everything from scratch. Health and safety is massively promoted through the concept of “go home how you came to work”. It’s fantastic that safety is the number one concept at CCEP. The safety training takes you through everything step by step, so you learn what hazards to look for and what issues you could face on the job.

Within my role, I am responsible for loading and unloading trailers, moving stock around the warehouse, getting things to the right places, changing pallets and checking products to make sure our customers don’t receive damaged goods.

I’m still making connections in the company and learning more about CCEP – and the best way to do that is to talk to people. I have great pride in working for this company and I wish I’d joined 10 years ago. CCEP has great values and looks after you as a person. We get updates from different departments, so we always know what’s happening.

The warehouse is still a very male-dominated space, but more women are joining. When I started, I was hired along with two other women – we are all still here, we are all creating our own paths in the company – and a few more women have joined since we started. A lot of people probably still think working in a warehouse is a man’s job, but it’s a job for everybody.

I’ve never been discriminated against at CCEP because I’m a woman. Everyone is treated like a human being, rather than being defined by gender. It has been phenomenal, everyone has shown me the ropes and taken me under their wing. I’ve settled in really well.

Looking ahead, I hope I have a long future with the company and I feel like I have the opportunity to move forward. My goal is to move into an instructing role. This would entail teaching new starters and agency staff, helping them get their forklift-driving qualification. I am learning about different areas of this part of the business because I need to know a lot to become a trainer.

I started out as someone who had never driven a forklift before and now I want to be able to support newcomers and pass on the knowledge that I have gained. Right now, I am learning as much as I can. I’ve always enjoyed teaching people things and speaking to people, so becoming a trainer makes sense as my next step. I’ve already had quite a few conversations about this with my managers and they have given me a range of options for my career path.

In April, I was sent on a manual handling instructors’ course and I became the first woman in distribution to gain that qualification, so that was a big achievement. It took me one step closer to becoming an instructor. If CCEP sees your potential, they will send you on the courses you need to achieve your ambitions.

My advice to anyone interested in working in warehouses, especially women, is to not be scared. Have a positive attitude, take things in your stride, and have those conversations that will help you carve your career path.

 

 

You can read more about how we are fostering an inclusive, diverse and equitable culture across our business here.