The Billington Group would not be where it is without its amazing teams. In this ‘Our People’ series, we share a bit more about the diverse roles across our businesses and provide some insight into what makes Billington employees tick!
Name: Toni Minett
Job title: Procurement Planner
How long have you been with Billington Group? Please tell us a bit about your journey within the Group and how you got to where you are today:
I have been with the Group for one year now.
Describe a typical day in your role:
A typical day includes ordering raw materials and packaging for EPC Newport and EPC Lazy against our production plans and forecasts. Then a lot of it is spent communicating with suppliers regarding deliveries or any challenges facing orders.
What’s the best part of your job?:
I would say the best part is seeing production hit weekly targets with minimum RM issues. The positive energy when things are going well does spread throughout all areas of the business.
What are the biggest challenges you face when managing procurement at EPC?
It’s pretty much what everyone in procurement/supply chain faces – delivery delays. There are now so many factors as to why this happens which can be out of your control, in some cases you can use an alternative product for production, but if it’s a bespoke line then that’s when things can prove difficult.
Can you tell us about something you’ve enjoyed working on recently?
The launch of a major new product, it’s still ongoing as we are currently producing the stock hold for the launch but currently (don’t want to jinx things) the raw materials/packaging have been coming in pretty smoothly, this is a big turnaround as for the initial trial launch earlier this year it was a very painful process!
What makes the food sector exciting to work in?
There’s always something new in the works and it’s very fast paced so you won’t get bored or find yourself clock watching.
What three key skills would you say you need when working in procurement?
Communication, initiative, problem-solving
What advice would you give to someone looking to get started in procurement?
Don’t be afraid to ask questions or help.
What makes The Billington Group stand out as a great place to work?
I would say the group is very good at trying to create a good work community. With the summer/Christmas events it does make you feel appreciated.
Now a bit more about you….
Coffee or tea? Tea
What’s your favourite guilty pleasure food?
Dairy milk
What’s your favourite dish to cook at home?
Enchiladas
Favourite weird food combinations? We love salt and vinegar crisps and chocolate, or the famous/infamous McDonald’s fries dipped in a milkshake.
Sorry none I can think of!
What do you get up to outside of work? From hobbies to commitments like being a member of a sports team, we’d love to hear about it!
Enjoy a lot of family time, taking my son out on trips on the weekend or taking our dogs for a walk over the river/forest.