Business lady with report

40% of firms find better post-COVID suppliers

In a recent survey, reported by the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS), 41% of firms said that they have found “new and better” suppliers to work with as a direct result of coronavirus.

The survey also found that 57% found the outbreak an “incentive” to make positive changes to their business model, with 35% are now using cheaper suppliers than those they had worked with previously

The survey of 502 senior decision-makers confirmed that the pandemic has been damaging and challenging for the UK’s private sector, but it has also presented opportunities.

The report highlights how Covid-19 has forced businesses to re-evaluate their business models and supply chains, enabling them to make improvements to the way they operate.

The worst impacts of the economic costs of the pandemic are confirmed, with 36% of respondents stating that businesses in their supply chain had closed down since March and over half (56%) had had to change how they delivered their product or service.

And while there is a sense of optimism from the business leaders, with a positive second half of the year anticipated, only 52% expect their turnover to grow in 2020.

The reports findings are in stark contrast to the doom and gloom of three months ago and suggest that businesses are not becoming complacent, but are actively seeking new opportunities while overcoming the challenges of the pandemic.

Although much of the foregoing detail and survey responses relate to the supply of products, the drive for continual improvement, even in the midst of a onadmeic, apply equally to logistics and freight. 

Metro have continued to enhance our platforms over the pandemic period, launching initiatives and driving innovation to deliver cost effective and reliable solutions, during a turbulent and unpredictable market. 

We also strive to look into the future, by anticipating further changes with Brexit and further supply chain impacts from Covid19. 

Metro have continued to attract new business from clients over the last 6 months, many of whom are reassured by our consistent long term approach to our business continuity and strategic planning. 

For further information on our solutions please contact Grant Liddell, Business Development Director (grant.liddell@metroshipping.co.uk/ 07817 477926) who will be delighted to assist you and present all options available based on requirements and expectations.

Kiran Sophie Ladva

Metro’s 2020 undergraduate cohort are truly unique

Attracting talented young people to start a career in logistics is an industry wide issue, which Metro has addressed by engaging directly with regional universities and introducing the logistics and supply chain sector to annual cohorts of undergraduates. With the opportunity to experience a wide range of tasks and responsibilities, during a placement year.

The one year, fully-paid, Metro placement is designed to give undergraduates the opportunity to learn more about the practicalities of working at Metro in customer-facing teams and to develop their people skills, as well as helping them build practical knowledge of the supply chain and global logistics.

In learning the challenges our customers face and seeing how we develop the solutions and processes they need, we give undergraduates an engaging workplace experience and hopefully, inspire and nurture the next generation of talent for our client-facing teams.

Having experienced some unique times, Kiran-Sophie Ladva, an English Literature and Politics Student at Aston University, talks about her Metro experience.

"As I have come to the end of a 13-month placement at Metro I thought it would be a great opportunity to write about my experience. With this job being notably opposite to my degree in English Literature and Politics, I began my placement journey feeling anxious, due to the minimal knowledge I had of the industry. 

By working and liaising with plenty of clients, carriers and hauliers, my confidence and knowledge in the industry excelled and flourished, strengthening communication, leadership and organisational skills. Also, this exposure to a diverse range of people allowed me to build strong relationships and friendships, in both work and general life. 

During my placement, global circumstances (i.e. Covid-19 and Brexit) impacted our industry tremendously, meaning I was apart of some of the most stressful situations our industry has faced. Being forced to adapt to new rules and regulations, this pressure has equipped me with vital skills to utilise in my future endeavours. 

Having achieved a 1st-class grade in my placement year, I am truly grateful for everything Metro has provided me with. The training, the variety of skills, the laughter, the stress, the friendships and the heightening in my confidence will impact my future positively. 

Thank you so much, Metro" #placement

Kiran-Sophie Ladva

English Literature and Politics Final Year Student

Ben Fidler

The Metro team talk: Ben Fidler

Metro’s outsourcing services ensure that we can take care of the supply chain so you can focus on your business, with Ben and the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) team being a crucial component in these operations.  

Graduating with a degree in geography, Ben worked in the customer service industry before joining Metro in 2016. He began his career managing freight and customer services for a world leading tyre brand and a key blue chip Metro customer. 

In 2019, Ben joined the BPO team with specific focus on building and sustaining relationships with Metro’s Indian subcontinent team, analysing M-data, and streamlining functions to be outsourced. 

With businesses far and wide having to adapt to the constraints of Covid19, Ben and the BPO team played an integral role in ensuring Metro’s outsourcing services could continue to thrive. They created new I.T solutions to manage functions and troubleshoot issues remotely. 

At the beginning of this year Ben was promoted to supervisor. Resultantly, Ben takes on greater responsibilities including leading weekly briefings with outsource offices, and being the pivotal internal link in informing and updating directors.

Ben recently gave a presentation at the initial Next Gen meeting, pitching about potential improvements and updates to the company’s website and social media. 

Mark Dainter scaled e1597747489821

The Metro team talk: Mark Dainter

Graduating university with a degree in chemistry, Mark quickly realised that a career in “blowing things up” was not for him.

 Joining Metro in 1996, almost two and a half decades ago, Mark elicits his versatility through working across a wide variety of departments in the business, ranging from import and export operations, to documentation.

Over the last 15 years, Mark’s involvement with the pricing aspects of the business have been indispensable, performing them within Metro’s procurement team, whilst undertaking a principle role in our digital Tariff System.

Mark’s current responsibilities encompass pricing and administration, in which he is instrumental in publishing rates and contracts and the administration of carrier charges and customer tariffs.

As a self-proclaimed ‘Jack of all trades’, Mark’s ancillary responsibilities include reporting statistics and auditing; whilst his expertise allows him to “put his hand” to a wealth of other tasks in the business.

Right now, Mark’s primary focus is looking at ways to increasing efficiency within the business by further digitalising and automating processes.