Stuart Ellis

Within my role I liaise with my shift supervisor and prioritise which lines need to be worked first and organize the order in which all stock must be worked. I ensure all stock is worked efficiently and delegate jobs to my colleagues. I clear all unworked or over stock and store in the warehouse ready for the following day before the store opens to the general public. Promotional stock changes on a fortnightly basis and must be on sale in designated areas of the store with signage and correct prices. In the absence of the shift supervisor, I am the key holder for the store and am responsible for supervisor roles, for example, disabling all the alarms and ensuring fire exits are unlocked and clear.

My work time was spent between the front of store and the warehouse. I would receive deliveries and store them neatly and safely in the warehouse ready to be valued, price marked and put on sale in store. Any items purchased to be delivered would need to be taken into the warehouse, labelled with the delivery address and made ready to be picked up for delivery by BHF transport staff. I would assemble and disassemble furniture ready for delivery or to be displayed in store.

Several warehouse and construction site jobs taken in this time

Driving an electric pump truck, I would pick and stack orders from individual stores onto pallets efficiently, safely and accurately, ready for delivery. Efficiency was key to this role and hourly, weekly targets were monitored by supervisors and managers.

I began this role as a warehouse operative in a busy food production factory. I worked on production lines using basic machinery and abiding to strict hygiene standards. I progressed quickly within the business and moved up the companies grading system. Each grade had different roles and responsibilities. My final role within the business was as a production manager, running a unit with up to five production lines and fifty staff.