Lisa Kirkbride – Health and Safety & Facilities Manager

By |2023-03-20T16:17:22+00:00March 20th, 2023|Categories: Staff Case Studies|

Lisa Kirkbride
Health & Safety & Facilities Manager

Lisa recently took up her post with us after a successful career with the Royal Military Police.

Before Pioneer …

Lisa joined us in December 2022 and she brings a wealth of experience to her role.

Lisa served in the Royal Military Police for over 25 years, during which time she worked in many varied roles which saw her deploy to Afghanistan, Germany, Canada and all over the UK and successfully built-up experience working in logistics, health and safety during her service.

She met her husband whilst at […]

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John Nee – Factory Manager

By |2022-05-31T08:58:17+01:00May 31st, 2022|Categories: Staff Case Studies|

John Nee
Factory Manager

John recently celebrated over 43 years of service after joining us straight from school at the age of 16.

The early years

John started out helping our drivers deliver orders to customers. This was a job he really enjoyed as each day was different and he enjoyed the face-to-face contact with our customers across the region.

Soon, John became an apprentice butcher learning how to produce cuts of meat to ensure each carcass is as profitable as possible. Key skills he learnt during his apprenticeship were: knife skills, health & safety, profitability, seasonality and customer service.

John […]

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Norman Hunter – Operations Manager

By |2022-05-11T13:34:53+01:00March 15th, 2022|Categories: Staff Case Studies|

Norman Hunter
Operations Manager

Norman joined us just over ten years ago and has seen great changes at our Gateshead depot during those years.

Norman’s time before joining our team …

Norman brings a wealth of experience and skills to his current role, obtained by working in a diverse number of roles.

For many years, he worked as a banksman for a local brewery delivering across the north east.

For a number of years, Norman enjoyed working in social care with under-privileged children on a part-time basis. This involved sleeping over and ensuring the safety of the children in his care.

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Tracey Woollerton – Sales Support Team Leader

By |2022-10-05T10:53:10+01:00May 24th, 2021|Categories: Staff Case Studies|

Tracey Woollerton
Sales Support Team Leader

Before joining us, Tracey worked in childcare and early years settings for many years. She was looking for a change in career direction and decided to put her organisational skills to the test.

Tracey’s career …

Tracey joined Pioneer in 2018 to work in our sales support team. Our sales support team is not just an integral part to our sales team, the team is quite often regarded the voice of Pioneer! Many of our customers know the team by name and voice only as the team is responsible for taking phone calls and handling customer […]

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Amy Brown – Replenishment Planner

By |2023-04-18T10:19:16+01:00May 17th, 2021|Categories: Staff Case Studies|

Amy Brown
Replenishment Planner

Amy joined us when she was 15 and still at school, working Saturdays in our warehouse.

The start of Amy’s career …

As soon as she left school at 18, she joined us full-time as an order picker, ensuring that customers’ orders were filled correctly ready to be delivered. She was also responsible for stocking our warehouse shelves neatly and tidily after supplier deliveries were made.

At the age of 20, Amy was promoted to a supervisor role. Now Amy was still responsible for picking customer orders however she supervised other staff to ensure that they were carrying […]

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Christian Nugent – Meat Purchasing Manager

By |2021-03-30T14:42:18+01:00March 30th, 2021|Categories: Staff Case Studies|

Christian Nugent
Meat Buying Manager

For many years, Christian worked in the retail sector until he decided to take a change in direction. He joined our butchery team in 2011 and became a trained butcher. With his skills and knowledge he was soon promoted to Meat Buyer.

Christian’s promotion

His eye for quality, understanding seasonal availability, customer demands and ensuring value for money, soon seen Christian promoted to Meat Purchasing Manager.

“Pioneer likes to promote within and this creates opportunity for everyone! From day one, Graham and David have been supportive and I’m allowed to work autonomously as I’ve been encouraged to be responsible for my […]

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Michael Brown – Purchasing Director

By |2021-03-30T14:43:07+01:00August 12th, 2019|Categories: Staff Case Studies|

Michael Brown
Purchasing Director

The start of Michael’s career …

Just before his 19th birthday, Michael joined the Pioneer family.

His initial role as Coldstore Operative and as a qualified forklift driver involved him loading and unloading delivery vehicles and putting away delivered stock. An important role in the busy coldstore where orderliness is key to ensure customer deliveries are accurate and on time.

“I enjoy working for a strong family-run business which leads from the front, with ambition to grow and create great career opportunities in this region and I’m always encouraging my staff to aim for […]

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Emma Harkness – Production Worker

By |2023-02-22T12:04:48+00:00August 15th, 2017|Categories: Staff Case Studies|

Emma Harkness
Production Worker

The start of Emma’s career

Emma’s initial role in our retail store has taken her down a route that she would never have imagined and found a job she loves!

In 2002, Emma joined our team in our busy Fisher Street shop in the centre of Carlisle. After working there just a few short months, she then relocated to our foodhall at Rosehill. Her retail role involved serving customers and setting up the attractive displays in the shops, enticing customers to shop and browse.

“Pioneer is a good company to work for […]

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Kevin Lightfoot – Cold Store Manager

By |2023-02-22T12:04:31+00:00August 11th, 2017|Categories: Staff Case Studies|

Kevin Lightfoot
Cold Store Manager

Kevin joined the Pioneer team straight after leaving school,
so it’s the only place he’s ever worked and has plans to stay!

The start of Kevin’s career

Kevin’s first role was an order picker for frozen foods and meat orders. This was back in the days when our business was much smaller and before the new cold store extension was built separating frozen and ambient goods.

“I don’t want to work anywhere else
– I’ll be here forever!”

What did he do next?

[…]

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Paul Atkinson – Area Sales Manager

By |2023-02-22T12:03:21+00:00June 14th, 2017|Categories: Staff Case Studies|

Paul Atkinson
Area Sales Manager

When Paul joined Pioneer straight from leaving school in 1985
he didn’t know that he would have such a varied and enjoyable career.

The start of Paul’s career …

From a delivery driver to working in our shop as a bacon butcher and cutting Lakeland steaks in our factory, Paul’s career has spanned many years and encompassed a wide variety of roles.

“I’m not one to sit still for long; I enjoy a challenge and when a post of Area Sales Manager cropped up, I jumped at the chance. There is no set […]

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