From Seasonal Warehouse Operative to Shift Manager

Sean Morrison shares his 18-year career journey at Co-op, starting as a seasonal temp to now leading shifts at our Birtley depot.

When I first joined Co-op in 2007, it was meant to be just a seasonal job. I started as a Warehouse Operative at our old distribution centre in Blaydon, never imagining that this role would be the first step in a long and rewarding career. At the time, the business was expanding, with plans to build a larger, more modern depot, creating plenty of opportunities to get involved. One of those opportunities was a Process Champion position, which involved learning a new system and training all 300 colleagues on-site. It was well outside my comfort zone at the time, but it sparked my interest, and I was successful in applying. Once the new depot was up and running and my job complete, I stepped into an Assistant Team Leader role.

Team Leader to Shift Manager

From there, I progressed to a Team Leader position, gaining deeper leadership experience and working on business-wide projects. As the business continued to evolve, so did my opportunities. I later moved to the role I’m in now - Shift Manager at our Birtley depot. This move for me involved moving from leading a team of 25 to overseeing multiple leaders and their teams. It was a challenge, but I embraced it, eager to learn and take on more responsibility. I’ve been in this role for seven years now and it’s been a great learning experience.

My advice to others

Throughout my journey, I’ve made full use of learning resources, from online courses to coaching and mentoring. My advice to others would be always look for opportunities to get involved with the wider business and take on new responsibilities where you can. For me, doing this led me to my involvement with Peer Action Collective (PAC). Doing this has helped me develop as a leader, build strong connections across the business and work with external organisations to support younger generations. The more you network and understand our business, the more opportunities you’ll have.

Looking back at the 18 years I’ve now had with Co-op, I can honestly say I never expected my seasonal role to lead to where I am today. From working on the warehouse floor to leading entire shifts, my career has grown in ways I couldn’t have imagined and the opportunities I’ve had with Co-op have helped me grow not only professionally but also personally.

Sean Morrison

Shift Manager.