In recognition of International Women’s Month, we had the pleasure of speaking with Amy Warren, one of our Manifest Clerks, about how much she enjoys working for PFE and the invaluable support she’s received from the company, enabling her to balance the responsibilities of work life with home life.
Number of years in the industry?
I’ve been working here for nearly two years, so I’m quite new to the PFE team.
What’s your journey been getting to PFE?
Before coming to PFE I’d worked in different industries. A past role was working for a building surveyor as a finance and marketing assistant; but that business closed during the pandemic. I wanted a new job that was closer to home, with more opportunity, and hours that suited me as a single parent. So you can imagine how thrilled I was when I found this job here. I live in Witham, so I’d often see PFE trucks around, but I didn’t really know what the company was all about. It’s turned out to be a great fit for me, and I couldn’t be happier.
What does your role at PFE entail?
I work as a Manifest Clerk in the Manifest Department. Our team handles the manifests for all of PFE’s customers. These manifests are crucial documents containing vital information about each shipment. They enable the customs department to clear shipments and the freight team to determine charges. Manifests detail the contents of containers, their origins and destinations, as well as their weight and dimensions. My role involves checking the ETAs and making any necessary changes to our customers’ manifests as required.
What do you enjoy most about your work?
I genuinely enjoy working with my team. We are very close-knit, and Franco is an excellent manager. The work I do is quite varied, which suits me well. There’s always lots of different tasks to keep me busy, and I find that the department aligns well with my skills. I’m naturally organised and accurate, which are essential for doing my job well.
As this is my first job in logistics, I’ve also enjoyed learning about the industry and how it works. I’ve got a much better idea now of what’s involved in getting products onto shop shelves. Before working here, I just took the process for granted, but now I appreciate the complexity involved. It’s an amazing journey that goods undertake to get them from a factory in Asia, all the way over to a retailer in the UK.
What makes PFE different from the rest?
I find PFE great to work for. The company culture prioritises the well-being of the staff as well the satisfaction of our customers. We have a social committee so there’s lots of events to participate in. Last year, we enjoyed a company football match at Colchester United and a really great summer party. I’ve heard that there are plans for new activities this year, like an afternoon of pottery. It’s clear that PFE values the happiness of their staff.
The office environment here is friendly and welcoming. Every manager and director I’ve spoken to has been approachable and supportive. When I joined the company everyone in the Manifest team took me under my wing and showed me the ropes. I was made to feel really welcome and my colleague Maisie worked alongside me until I felt confident working independently. I’ve felt thoroughly supported and cared for.
Additionally, PFE has been accommodating of my situation as a single mum. With a 14-year-old daughter, they’ve been understanding when I’ve needed to leave early due to her being unwell, allowing me to make up the hours on other days. Our HR manager, Ellie, is easy to communicate with, and overall, it feels like everyone looks out for each other here.
What are three words that describe PFE?
FRIENDLY
WELCOMING
SUCCESSFUL
Do you have any future ambitions for PFE?
I’m happy with what I’m doing right now. I’m still learning and content to continue with my current role. At PFE, I’ve received excellent training, not only to be able to complete my daily tasks but also to acquire additional skills, such as Excel training.
While my daughter is still quite young, my priority is to balance home life with work life and my current role and hours make that easy for me. My daughter never comes home from school to an empty house. PFE has given me a job that fits in perfectly with my responsibilities as a single parent. It’s not been easy to find a job like it in the past. So many jobs require you to work 9 to 5, which doesn’t fit around school hours. I was so pleased when I came across this opportunity because it has allowed me to be there for my daughter after school, and being located in Witham it’s also really easy for me to get here in the morning and get home in the afternoon.
Who was your childhood hero and why?
It’s definitely my parents who come to mind. I’m really lucky to have them. It was me, my mum, dad, and my brother growing up. My grandparents lived in Walton on the Naze. We’d go down and visit them and go to the beach. My parents always worked hard to make sure we had everything we wanted and needed, and we had a lot of fun when we were kids.
Now that my brother and I are grown up, Mum and Dad are still our biggest supporters, and they’re the best grandparents to their grandchildren. They’re just very selfless. I know that they would just do anything for us; anything we asked for, they’d be there for us, the grandchildren as well.
If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life what would it be?
Greek, Italian, and Turkish are my favourites. If I go to a Greek or Turkish restaurant, I’d order some salads, fish, rice, and a selection of sauces. There’s this fantastic Turkish place in Witham called Astare; I’d recommend it to anyone.
What’s your favourite movie?
To be honest, I don’t really have a favourite movie or even genre. I enjoy watching all sorts of films, like comedies and action movies. I also enjoy a series on Netflix.
