Lisa and Carrie started at NVS just a few months apart back in 1999. They each took a slightly different route to get there, but their paths would converge 10 years later as part of the Replenishment Team. Between them, they bring over 50 years of experience to this essential role, but it’s clear from talking to them that their connection to NVS is not just professional, it’s very much personal.
What was your role when you first started at NVS?
Lisa was initially employed by the agency responsible for cleaning the offices at Talke, her transition to the warehouse floor came at the suggestion of the Warehouse Manager. She recalls “I was nervous to start working on the warehouse floor, but there was a lovely lady called Lyn who took me under her wing, and I soon settled in.” When things changed in her personal life, Lisa applied for the day shift and then moved to work in the replenishment team in 2001, switching to a part-time role within the team when she returned from maternity leave in 2008 after the birth of her son. Lisa shares “It makes me feel so old, thinking I’ve been working for NVS for 25 years. It’s just flown by!”.
Carrie disagrees with Lisa, admitting that “some days it definitely feels like 25 years!”, but she can still recall in incredible detail the route she took to get to her current role, explaining that she joined NVS as part of the Checking Department, working Sunday to Thursday, 3pm till 11pm, on the noon shift. Her next step was a move to the Fridges Department, still working as part of the checking process and then on to the ‘Float Room’ where she was involved in sorting the paperwork, including the invoices and pick notes. Carrie finally moved over to the Replenishment Team in 2009.
What can you tell us about some of the changes you’ve seen along the way?
Both Lisa and Carrie agree that there have been some big changes over the years as the company has grown and evolved. When they first started at NVS it was just one warehouse, but as the business grew, more space was added, including another warehouse for the bulk stock and a mezzanine floor. The expansion has clearly had an impact on the shift patterns and work hours too, as Carrie distinctly remembers that when she first started, there were two noon shifts, with the other shift working Monday-Friday and Lisa adding that the hours for part-time have also changed.
Lisa fondly reminisces about the early days when there was a distinctly different vibe in the warehouse. With health and safety regulations and processes less stringent than today, “We could get away with things that we’d never be able to do now” and the smaller scale of the business meant that “When all the jobs were done, we used to be able to go home early on a Friday”. She also humorously recalls when they first switched over to uniforms, going from a blue tabard to a t-shirt. “We originally had a small logo on the top left of the t-shirt and then the logo became much, much bigger – this was around the time that widescreen TVs were becoming popular, so we used to joke that we’d gone widescreen!”.
Can you recall any particularly memorable events during your time at NVS?
Lisa and Carrie have some lovely anecdotes to share, with the focus of their memories around the more social aspects of their time at NVS. Carrie recalls that they had some really memorable Christmas parties when the whole business was invited and it was held at the local football grounds like Port Vale and Stoke City. Whilst Lisa remembers that “At Christmas, we used to get a raffle ticket and then had to queue up at the Warehouse Manager’s door and he would swap your ticket for a Christmas present – he always seemed to choose wine for me!”
Carrie goes on to explain that “It’s the small acts of gratitude that are really appreciated and remembered – the Ice cream van which comes in the summer and the recent Employee Appreciation Day when we had doughnuts.” They also both clearly remember another similar occasion, with Lisa explaining that “Anthony (Inbound Manager) said to us that if we could get the errors down below a certain target, he would treat us all to cream cakes. When we met that target, he kept to his word and even bought us Wright’s Pies too!”.
Lisa recalls that they’ve also had a few memorable incidents with little furry and not-so-furry visitors. “There used to be some feral cats living around the old warehouse at Talke and one day we could hear faint crying coming from within one of the walls. It turned out that one of the cats had somehow got into the wall cavity and made a cosy little nest to have her kittens. We had to carefully knock into the wall to get the kittens out. One of our colleagues, a lady called Joan, volunteered to look after them and give them a new home.” She continues that “On another occasion, we had a baby bat in the warehouse and had to call out the RSPCA to come and rescue it”.
What are your thoughts about the new facilities at Spitfire House?
The move to the new facility at Spitfire House has brought about mixed feelings for both Lisa and Carrie. They were initially unsure about the extra commuting distance and the potential increased traffic on the ‘D’ road, but it seems neither of these has turned out to be as bad as expected. They’re happy about the extra employee parking spaces, though.
Whilst they like how modern and clean the new building is, they both admit that the extra space has taken a bit of adjusting to, especially the increased walking distances to the canteen during breaks. They jokingly point out that “it’s a long way when you only have short legs like we do!”
In terms of their work processes at Spitfire House, Carrie explains that they’re now unpacking products straight from the pallet, rather than from the tote boxes that used to come up on the conveyor belt to the replenishment area from Goods In. “At Talke, the belt, which moved the totes around the warehouse used to be constantly on, so it could be quite nosy at times, it’s much quieter at Spitfire House”.
She goes on to explain “At the moment, we’re actually doing the rest of the job exactly the same here as we did in Talke. With the new warehouse management system not up and running yet, the scanners are not working, so we’re still using paper and pen”. Carrie admits that she is a little apprehensive about switching to the scanners later in the year, but Lisa thinks it will be a positive change once they get used to it.
It seems that even at the new facilities we still seem to attract little visitors, although they’re now more of the feathery type. Lisa, who works on the mezzanine floor, laughingly explains “One thing I do find quite amusing about the new warehouse is that in the summer, we seem to get lots of seagulls and as there are lots of glass panels in the roof, all you can see when you look up is little fat bodies and little flat feet. It makes me chuckle everytime”.
What has motivated you to stay at NVS for 25 years?
What keeps Lisa and Carrie rooted at NVS after 25 years? For them, the answer is simple: it’s the people. From enduring friendships to unwavering support during personal ups and downs, making it feel more like a family than just a job.
Lisa treasures the close bonds she’s formed with her colleagues, many of whom have become personal friends. “I have made a lot of friends here, with most of my personal friends either working here or having worked here at some point over the years”. She adds “We’re a very welcoming and sociable team. If someone new starts, we try and get them involved, invite them out with us”. Reflecting on her time at NVS, Lisa admits “It’s the people that I would really miss if I left”.
Carrie echoes these sentiments, highlighting the invaluable support she has received from her NVS family. “I’ve been married, divorced and married again, whilst I’ve been at NVS and the support of my friends and colleagues has made a big difference.” She points out that she’s also received a lot of support and understanding from the warehouse management team, particularly mentioning their previous Supervisor, Naithan Walker and Stock Manager, Annette Timmis. Carrie recalls “Annette even bought me a present when I got married again, I was really touched”. Lisa adds that they’ve had great managers over the years, one in particular they both remember is Sharon Higgs – “She was strict but fair, which means she got your loyalty. And I was really quite sad when she left the business”.
Read more in our blog post series:
Looking Back: Lisa Beardmore, Customer Excellence Manager, reflects on 35 years at NVS
Looking Back: Andy Bingham, Driver – 35 Years with NVS
Looking Back: 25 Years with Phil Bate, Transport Operations Manager
