Charlie recently joined Swanline Group as a Trainee Estimator after freshly graduating from university. We’re excited to share his journey so far and his transition into the packaging industry with no prior packaging experience.
Charlie earnt his degree in Ancient, Medieval, and Modern History from Canterbury University, which is quite different to the modern-day packaging industry. However, his love for problem-solving and attention to detail made him a great fit for our Estimating department and he has settled in well.
Charlie first heard about Swanline Group from his friend Amy, our Sales Order Administrator, who recommended Swanline to him and he was initially intrigued. Amy’s recommendation and positive feedback made it less daunting for him to apply. After an intensive yet smooth interview process, we were thrilled to offer him the position in our Estimating department, and he was happy to accept.
Charlie stated “Joining Swanline is my first official job, it was a bit daunting at first, especially with working in an office environment, but the reality has been much better than I expected. The team here are incredibly welcoming and supportive, making the transition into this new industry much easier than I anticipated.”
We asked Charlie about the onboarding process and how he found it all. Charlie told us “The onboarding process was smooth, with detailed one-on-one training that was extremely helpful. My colleagues have been fantastic, always willing to offer advice and answer my questions, which has helped me get up to speed much faster.”
What has pleased Charlie the most at Swanline is how patient and supportive everyone is. Despite being new to the industry, he’s never felt out of place or overwhelmed. “My knowledge and skills have grown significantly since I started, which has given me confidence in my role and opened up new career progression possibilities,” he says.
One of Charlie’s biggest challenges has been learning the technical aspects of estimating and understanding the intricacies of the packaging industry. However, with the support of his colleagues, he’s been able to overcome these hurdles quickly and his enjoying his role at Swanline
We wanted to find out if there has been any particularly rewarding experiences for Charlie so far. He shared with us that he has been working on a complex packaging solution recently for a major customer. Charlie mentioned “It was challenging, but seeing the project through to completion was incredibly satisfying. It showed me just how much I’ve learned in such a short time, thanks to the team’s support”.
Steve Nelson, Head of Estimation, has been equally impressed with Charlie’s progress. Steve has been with the company for over 12 years and knows what it takes to be successful in Estimations. We’ve asked Steve to inform us in his own words with how Charlie’s been getting on.
Steve said, “Welcoming Charlie into the department has been extremely positive. It was daunting to take on someone with no prior experience in such a fast-paced department, but with the support of the team and Charlie’s enthusiasm, we’ve given him a solid footing. It’s been a pleasure watching him grow his knowledge day by day, and I’m confident he’ll become one of our go-to contacts for customers. I’d like to personally thank Charlie for his positive attitude and the way he’s integrated himself within the department and the business in such a short space of time.”
When Charlie isn’t at work, you’ll likely find him spending time with his horses. Before joining Swanline, Charlie’s work experience was centred around his family’s horse-riding business, where he’s had a lifelong passion for horse riding and has been involved in event management for show jumping facilities. Charlie has helped manage 25 liveries and cared for his own five horses (not an easy task!).
We asked Charlie’s for his best piece of advice, which he responded with “Embrace the challenge, and you’ll surprise yourself with what you can achieve.” We couldn’t agree more!
Charlie’s story is just one example of the supportive and dynamic environment we strive to maintain at Swanline Group. If you’re looking for a place where you can grow, learn, and be part of a fantastic team, we’d love to hear from you. Explore our open roles and see where a career at Swanline could take you.
