TRANSPORT AND MATERIALS HANDLING
NO LIMITS IN LOGISTICS LEADERSHIP
BMJ speaks to Lynsey Llewellyn, transport manager at Jewson’s new Transport Hub in Edinburgh, about her career journey, the challenges of managing a large logistics operation, and the success of the company’s first centralised delivery hub.
L
ynsey Llewellyn’s career at Jewson has been marked by steady progression, resilience, and an ever-growing commitment to improving operations. As the transport manager at Jewson’s first-ever Transport Hub in Edinburgh, Llewellyn is playing a pivotal role in the company’s strategy to enhance delivery efficiency and provide better service to its customers. Her journey into the construction industry began by chance, but she says it has become a significant and fulfilling career - so far.
Llewellyn’s entry into the industry came when she was seeking a career change and decided to apply for a role at Jewson. “I got into the construction industry 11 years ago, by happy accident,” she says. “I was looking for a career change, and I had a friend who worked for Jewson. I liked the sound of the business, and when a vacancy opened up, I applied.” Llewellyn’s first role was in sales, but her ambition led her to quickly transition into a supervisory position in the Tool Hire team. It wasn’t long before Llewellyn found herself leading the way, despite being one of the few women in the industry at the time. “Back then, there were very few women in that kind of job, and I was used to customers visiting the branch and asking to speak to a male colleague, before realising that I was in charge,” she recalls.
Operational understanding After four years, Llewellyn was promoted into a training role where she helped roll out a new IT system across Jewson’s UK branches. She travelled extensively, gaining insight into the company’s operations across the country. This gave her a broad understanding of how different branches operated and what was needed to ensure smooth and efficient processes.
Now, as the transport manager at the Craigentinny Transport Hub in Edinburgh, Llewellyn is overseeing one of the company’s most important operations. The Hub, launched in October 2024, is centralising delivery operations for the Edinburgh area. With 11 new trucks and an updated fleet, it is part of Jewson’s nationwide efforts to improve efficiency and capacity.
“We’ve invested significantly into the hub, to create a market-leading facility with
24 Operating 13 vehicles, handling more than
100 deliveries per day, and managing a fleet that services hundreds of miles, the day-to- day operations at the Hub are demanding. However, Llewellyn is confident that the team is up to the challenge.
Better planning
“We are able to get more deliveries to more customers, faster,” she says, adding that the success of the Edinburgh hub has prompted the company to consider expanding this model to other parts of the UK. The efficiency of the new system comes from better load planning, reducing the number of trucks needed for a particular area, cutting down fuel costs, and saving time. These improvements ultimately create more capacity for the team, enabling them to meet growing demand. For Llewellyn, managing the transport operations at the Hub is not just about logistics – it’s about leadership. Her experience as a supervisor and trainer, combined with her background in sports, has shaped her approach to team management.
brand new vehicles, increased stock levels, longer delivery hours and more capacity,” Llewellyn says. This is in line with Jewson’s overarching strategy, part of parent company STARK Building Materials UK’s ‘Trust in Better’ initiative. The goal is to enhance the service provided to tradespeople and small to medium builders across Edinburgh, ensuring that deliveries are made faster and more efficiently. The Hub centralises all deliveries for the Edinburgh area, meaning customers from any of Jewson’s five local branches can place orders and have them fulfilled from the Craigentinny site. This centralisation saves time, reduces unnecessary trips across the city, and streamlines the process. Llewellyn describes the Hub’s operational approach: “We’ve received fantastic feedback from our customers and colleagues about the new approach,” adding that the centralisation of deliveries allows Jewson to better manage logistics, ensuring faster and more reliable service for customers.
“I’ve always believed in getting the most out of your team by understanding what they do – their pain points and their motivations,” she says. As head coach of Caledonia Chaos, Scotland’s only women’s American football team, Llewellyn has honed these skills further. She’s proud of her team’s achievements, including their recent victory as the 2024 NWFL 7’s champions. “I’ve learned so much about what women are capable of through my role with the team,” she reflects. “It helps me look at things differently in a professional capacity, too. I’ve learned how to read team dynamics and appeal to different personalities. There are so many transferable skills that I’m excited to take into my role with Jewson.” Managing a team of predominantly male drivers and staff has not been a concern for Llewellyn. “I’ve never felt limited by my gender,” she says. “My ambition and work ethic define me far more than my gender.” Instead, she focuses on understanding the needs and motivations of her team to ensure they can perform at their best. This approach is central to her success in both the construction and sports arenas.
Llewellyn acknowledges that while the
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net January 2025
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