Stacey’s Story

Hi, I’m Stacey, and I’m the Department Manager of the Vehicle Workshop based in Aylesford, Kent. My role is to ensure the maintenance and compliance of our heavy goods vehicles, light goods vehicles, and trailers across the Southeast region for both Waitrose and John Lewis. Ultimately, my responsibility is to make sure our fleet is safe, legal, and operating efficiently.

I’ve been with the Partnership for 10 years. I originally joined as a part-time administrator and at the time I never imagined I would progress into management. But when an opportunity came up for a secondment as a Section Manager, I decided to go for it. Shortly after that, the Department Manager role became available and I thought, why not give it a try? As I write this, I’m 18 months in and I’m now proud to hold the role permanently.

Day-to-day life in my role is incredibly busy; there’s never a dull moment. Our operation runs 24/7 and things can change very quickly, so it can be challenging. My team and I are responsible for making sure the fleet is first and foremost legal, compliant, and roadworthy, but also as cost-effective as possible, ensuring we maintain high standards while delivering value for the business.

Being a woman in this industry has been a big part of my journey. I’m the first female workshop manager within the business, and of course that has come with its challenges because historically the industry has been very male dominated. But I truly believe that success comes down to hard work, determination, and passion for what you do, not whether you’re male or female. I work hard to achieve my goals and I’m proud of the progress we’ve made.