Stephanie Lawther

What was it that made you choose Almac over other companies that interested you or with which you interviewed?

The job was recommended to me by an agency (I was unemployed at the time) so didn’t actually choose Almac.

What makes you want to stay?

The role is varied with a good mix of routine and more demanding tasks. I get to work with a wide variety of colleagues in different departments, giving me an opportunity to understand various areas of the business. I work in a team where everybody gets on and you are supported, both by colleagues and management. This extends to the majority of people working at Almac. It is a company where it is very easy to feel part of the group and where your contribution is recognized, whatever your level.

There are also opportunities to progress or move to different departments, or even a different country.

There is a lot of flexibility, especially in my role, with flexible hours and the opportunity to use your holiday allowance as suits (bank holidays can be worked and days kept for when they are needed, except for a few closure days).

There are a lot of benefits: health insurance, pension, rewards scheme (ACE) but also non-monetary benefits such as the fun day, fun run, choir, lunchtime lectures. Almac also embraces the diversity of its workforce and has been providing support to EU employees with matters relating to Brexit.

Almac contributes to society, by the nature of the business but also through the funding of research and support of charitable causes.

What would you tell an applicant who is applying to Almac?

Make sure to prepare thoroughly for the interview: read all the guidance provided and think about possible answers carefully. Make sure you know Almac’s core competencies and can demonstrate how you have adhered to these values in the past.

What great opportunities have you had in your role?

I have worked on investigations which have spanned across several departments and have allowed me to prove myself in terms of organizing a heavy workload and leading meetings. The job can be quite challenging, especially with some customers who can have high expectations of what an investigation should cover, but it also very rewarding to find out what happened and how a problem can be fixed. It is very satisfying when a customer approved a difficult investigation without challenging it.

Can you outline your career to date?

I started as a temporary Senior Distribution Associate (processing orders and compiling shipping documentation) from Nov 2010 to May 2013 (with 9 months maternity in the middle). I then moved to Temperature Controlled Distribution Coordinator (providing advice on temperature controlled distribution matters, managing the shipping temperature system, investigating temperature excursions and compiling KPIs). In August 2015, while still a TCDC, I became a part-time lead investigator for Logistics Services, investigating and writing reports for transit issues. The role eventually took over and I was made full time Lead Investigator in June 2017. As part of the role, I also help with compiling quality documentation.