This year we’re introducing the brilliant team members behind Bluestones Supply Chain so you can put a face to the name, get to know our team a little better and find out what our staff enjoy most about working in the supply chain sector.
In the second instalment of our Meet the Team feature, we’re introducing the Managing Director of our Derby branch, Tiffany Whitworth.
Tell us a little bit about yourself
I grew up moving between counties, eventually settling in Derby, my parent’s hometown. I started working in transport customer service, moving on to planning National and International transport, and ultimately falling into recruitment around ten years ago. I’ve always had a passion for the transport and logistics sector and found that recruitment offered me a balance of working in logistics and engaging with people in a customer service capacity.
As you’re the Managing Director, how did Bluestones Supply Chain Derby come to be?
I worked for another agency in Derby that used Quest Pay Solutions payroll services for our temporary staff. During the time I worked with Quest, I built a great relationship with one of the Managers (now Director), Mick, and another Director, Alex. They knew I had ambitions to progress in my career, which led to them passing my name on to Steve (CEO) at Bluestones Investment Group. Following a few intense interviews and meetings, we launched the Bluestones Supply Chain Derby branch. The rest is history!
Since joining the Group, my team has seen me build and scale a profitable company, start a family and evolve into the Director I am today. They’ve provided me with ample support and I’ve gained so much experience and knowledge along the way. I’ve also obtained a few brilliant qualifications, including my Recruitment Certification and Transport Managers CPC – allowing me to hold my own licence as a Transport Manager.
In your role, what do you do?
I launched Bluestones Supply Chain Derby seven years ago. I started off as a one-man band operating out of a small office in Belper. Fast forward to today, we’re a strong team of five (and growing) based in the city centre of Derby. As the Managing Director, I am responsible for all things Supply Chain Derby, from managing budgets, forecasts, KPIs reporting, recruitment and training, as well as the day-to-day tasks associated with running a business. I have a fantastic team in Derby who are an absolute pleasure to work with, making the fast-paced nature of the role more manageable and enjoyable.
What do you enjoy most about your role?
I love most things about my role, but my favourite part is watching my own team grow and succeed, hit their targets, gain promotions and achieve their professional goals. I also have an amazing client base who have stuck with us through thick and thin, and we wouldn’t be where we are today without the support and hard work of candidates; working with them is an absolute pleasure.
What is it like working with the rest of the team?
In short, it’s lovely! Spending the majority of your time in a workplace with like-minded people who are honest, hardworking and passionate about what they do, makes stressful times more manageable… everyone in recruitment knows it can be a challenging industry to work in at times. Growing the Derby branch, hiring a brilliant team and being part of their career journey is extremely rewarding.
What do you enjoy about working in the supply chain industry?
Everything! Every day is different, and one of the unique things in supply chain recruitment is that problems don’t tend to roll over, so every day almost feels like starting again. The industry is ever-changing and expanding. As a woman working in a sector that is typically viewed as male-dominated, it’s been great to see an increasing number of female managers, drivers and planners join the supply chain industry. It is a joy to be a small part of that change too.
What do you enjoy most about working with clients?
The excitement of working with a new client, getting to know what they need and then delivering the best-suited people for their vacancies. The challenge we’ve always had has been balancing the number of positions our clients require candidates for and the number of talented individuals who can fill these positions.
What do you enjoy most about working with candidates?
I couldn’t imagine working in recruitment in any other sector than transport. Working with HGV drivers is one of the favourite parts of my job; their role requires an abundance of patience, and they nearly always have great humour and outgoing personalities. We strive to put our workers first by providing 24/7 on-call support, a team who are well versed in all things driving, and a CPC-qualified Transport Manager, so they know they can come to us for help with anything they need.
What do you enjoy doing when you’re not working?
I have a young daughter so my free time is usually spent taking her to different clubs and various activities. I love watching her grow into the independent and sassy young lady she’s becoming. I also love theatre, reading, cooking and walking our two Border Collies.