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moved to the company’s Amazon fulfilment team, he had to adjust to working with individuals rather than companies. “The Amazon team already existed but there


was a restructuring a few months after I joined Unsworth, and they wanted to take my ideas on board. There are lots of entrepreneurs in this side of the business and it is really interesting to grow with them as they develop. “Next I worked on airfreight, which happens at


a fast pace so you need to develop good time management,” he went on. “Now I am in operations, where organisational skills are important – but it all comes down to problem solving really.”


Relationships In addition to his main role, Kyle is mentoring a new apprentice at Unsworth. “He started last summer and he was quite shy at first, but he has really come out of his shell. He is being given more responsibility, and he is thriving. It is like looking at a younger version of myself, going on the same journey I did.” Kyle considers mentors to be a useful platform


A problem solving teamwork player


When Kyle Lawrence considered the possibility of starting an apprenticeship, he realised straight away that a hands-on qualification in logistics was perfect for him. That decision has resulted in his being a finalist in BIFA’s new Apprentice of the Year Award category, and he has long-term ambitions for his career in freight forwarding


Kyle knew early on that university was not the right path for him, but that he certainly wanted to gain a qualification. An apprenticeship made sense in many ways, he said. “With an apprenticeship you get hands-on


experience and you earn while you learn, without getting into debt and leaving home so early. Plus, a company that takes you on as an apprentice invests a lot of time in you; they are not likely to just let you go at the end of it, and you repay that favour with your loyalty.” Kyle’s choice of logistics was based on a clear


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understanding of his own character. “It looked like it involved teamwork and problem solving – both of which are strong skills of mine,” he recalled. “I also thought it would be interesting to be doing something different on a daily basis, and learning about different types of cargo.”


Developing skills Indeed, he has found there is a great deal to learn. Beginning his apprenticeship in the sales department at Unsworth, he had to develop communication and presentation skills; when he


for feedback between junior staff and management; an informal chat with a mentor can be less daunting than a meeting with HR, for instance, particularly for a young new recruit. Clearly, building good relationships is an


important aspect of Kyle’s approach to his career. He is part of Unsworth’s social committee, which runs events each month, as well as summer gatherings such as barbecues or sports days. “The events are really successful – lots of


people get involved and they bring everyone together,” he said. “There is also a group of us that play football every Monday. It is a good way to get to know people from other areas of the business, especially when you are just starting out. It makes it easier to help and support each other at work if you already know each other a bit.” Looking to the future, Kyle sees himself


staying at Unsworth. By learning as much as he can about the whole industry, he is confident that he will discover where he is strongest, and move up through the ranks in that department. Ultimately, he wants to get into management. “A role in leadership is very appealing to me as


I feel being able to further people’s knowledge is a great opportunity. In many years to come I will still look back on my early years and have a great appreciation for those who have been part of my journey – and I look forward to future generations being able to do the same while looking back on the experience and knowledge I have passed down to them,” he said.


October 2019


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