We speak to Shelby Pittman, Warehouse Office Assistant, to hear about her journey across the world before joining PFE. She also shares her thoughts on working in a warehouse environment and how being the only woman on the team has never fazed her.
Number of years in the industry?
PFE is my first official logistics job, so I’ve been in the industry for about 2.5 years.
What’s your journey been getting to PFE?
I grew up in Ramsden Heath, Billericay, before moving to Spain when I was nine. I lived there for four years and attended an international school. I didn’t learn Spanish, though, which I really regret because it would’ve been such a useful language to know now. My parents weren’t very pushy, but I wish they had encouraged me more to pick it up.
After Spain, when I was 12, we moved to Perth, Australia. We had family friends there who spoke highly of the place, and it seemed like a great opportunity. My parents ended up owning a café for seven years to get our citizenships, which took a lot of time and hard work.
After high school, I worked a few different jobs. I didn’t know what I wanted to do, so I kept picking up jobs here and there. I worked in customer service roles and even in the building industry for a while. When I moved back to the UK in 2017, it felt strange at first. It wasn’t really like coming home. I had to make all new friends, which was difficult.
My first job back here was with a company called EJ Taylor’s, which ranges from groundworks, fleet and all things to do with buildings. I met some great people there, and I’m still close friends with a few of the girls I worked with. After that, I worked at a company called Werner, they make scaffolding and ladders. It was a stressful job, and I was eventually made redundant during COVID.
Before joining PFE, I worked at a company called Carrs Flour Mill, which is where I got some experience with transport. I helped organise delivery boards with the drivers and worked with pallets, which is something we also do at PFE. It was a different industry, but I still learnt a lot. After that, I came across PFE and haven’t looked back since.
What does your role at PFE entail?
I’m a Warehouse Office Assistant, so I handle a lot of the day-to-day tasks that go on in the warehouse. I work closely with Adam, who’s been a huge help in training me. I’ve learned so much from him. While Rick Adams is my manager, I do see Adam Benfield as a bit of a role model because he’s shown me the ropes.
Day to day, there’s quite a bit of filing and checking of paperwork involved. Transport prepares all the load sheets and notes for the drivers, and it’s my job to go through the system to check which jobs are clear and which aren’t. Once I’ve gone through that, I initial the sheets to let the guys in the warehouse know they’re good to go.
Once everything is cleared, I move on to the WMS system. I print out the load sheets, check that all the jobs are correctly listed, and put them back in the cubbyholes, ready for the drivers when they come in. When the drivers arrive, they quote a WDO number, and I get in touch with the outside drivers as well. It’s quite a varied role, but it all works together to keep things running smoothly.
What do you enjoy most about your work?
I really enjoy the people I work with. When I first started, I did think it might be a bit tricky, being the only female in the warehouse, but I’m pretty laid back, so I wasn’t too worried about it. It’s funny, though – during my PDR with my manager, Rick, yesterday, he said he was a bit concerned before I started, wondering how I’d fit in. But honestly, it’s been great. Everyone’s so easy-going and it’s such a laugh. They’re all caring and positive, and we really look out for each other.
I really enjoy the atmosphere – everyone’s friendly and helpful. You can always rely on each other, and it makes such a difference to have that support around you. It’s definitely something I’ve got here, and I appreciate that a lot.
As for being the only girl, it doesn’t really bother me. I mean, sometimes I think it would be nice to have another female in the warehouse, but I’m pretty comfortable being the only one. I think I’m just easy-going like that.
What makes PFE different from the rest?
I think what really sets PFE apart is how focused we are on customer service. We genuinely care about pleasing our customers, and that’s definitely one of the reasons PFE works so well. It’s not just about getting the job done – it’s about making sure our customers are happy, and that’s something we’re really good at.
Another thing that makes PFE different is how well all the departments work together. Everyone has their part to play, and when we all pull together, it makes a big difference. You can really see how each department supports the others, and that’s what makes the whole thing work so smoothly.
What I also really like is how well they treat their staff. I always feel looked after here. If I’ve got any worries or doubts, I know I can ask Adam to help. Or I can speak to my manager, or even Ellie our HR Manager, if it’s something a bit more personal. They’re always approachable, and you feel like you’re being listened to, which is important.
And communication is a big thing here. Everyone’s good at it, whether it’s keeping each other in the loop or just making sure everyone knows what’s going on. I’ve only been here 2.5 years, but I’ve already seen so much improvement. It’s been nice being involved in that and watching PFE grow and get better. It feels good to be part of it.
What are three words that describe PFE?
Friendly
Customer-focused
Ambitious
Do you have any future ambitions for PFE?
At the moment, I’m happy with where I am and still learning about different aspects of the warehouse. There’s so much to take in, but I feel like I’m making good progress. The BIFA training we did was really interesting, and I benefited a lot from it, so I’d definitely be up for any additional training opportunities that come up in the future.
As PFE grows, I’d be happy to try other roles in the warehouse office if the opportunity arose. I couldn’t tell you exactly what job I’d want right now, but I’m open to exploring new things and continuing to develop my skills over time.
I think confidence comes with experience, and I’m getting there, but I still feel like there’s a lot more to learn. For example, Adam’s been here forever and just seems to know absolutely everything. I do find myself thinking, “Why can’t I be like that?” But I know it’ll come with time. For now, I’m just focused on learning as much as I can and being the best I can in my role.
Who was your childhood hero and why?
When I was a child, I absolutely idolised my nan, my dad’s mum. She’s not with us anymore, but she was such a huge part of my life growing up. One of the main reasons I moved back here was to be closer to her when she fell ill.
Growing up, I have so many lovely memories of her. I’d always have sleepovers at her house, and she’d leave toys for me on my bed – she absolutely adored me. She loved my brother too, but I think being her only granddaughter made our bond extra special. We’d wake up in the morning and see what was on the telly, she’d make little sandwiches, and we’d catch the bus into Billericay for the day. We’d have shopping trips, pack lunches, and sometimes watch a movie together. It was just really sweet and simple but meant so much to me.
Her name was Elsie, and she was such an amazing woman. I’ve already decided that if my fiancé and I ever have a little girl, her middle name will definitely be Elsie in honour of my nan.
If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?
I do change my mind a lot, but at the minute, I absolutely love burritos – Mexican burritos. They’re just so good. I also really like Turkish food, but my other half is celiac, so he can’t have anything with gluten. Turkish for him would just be plain chicken and rice, so we don’t really go to Turkish restaurants much, even though I do love it.
But then again, I also love good pub grub. There’s this pub in Stanway, Colchester, called Princess Charlotte, and they do a really nice Hunter’s chicken. It comes with proper good chips, coleslaw, and even the presentation is lovely. So yeah, I’d probably say pub grub is my favourite right now. If I had to pick just one thing to eat for the rest of my life, it’d be that Hunter’s chicken from there.
What’s your favourite movie?
I wouldn’t say I have a particular favourite movie, but my go-to genre is definitely horror and thriller. I just love it. If I had to pick, though, I’d probably say Insidious or The Conjuring. I really enjoy the thrill of being scared, and get really engrossed in the story. A lot of people can’t sleep after watching horror films, but they don’t affect me like that. Sometimes they put me on edge, but that’s what I like about them. I think it’s the adrenaline and excitement. It’s the same reason I love hikes and roller coasters – it’s all about the thrill for me!
