Careers

Rory Higgins

Account Manager HS2

"My role covers various things from day-to-day customer management, taking train orders, working with the customer to grow the portfolio (more trains!) and being the barer of bad news when it goes wrong. I love the variety of the role and getting out seeing the customer – it is important to appreciate the small part we have in the wider supply chain and that it matters. We’re delivering a lot of the material needed for building HS2, predominantly running trains from stone quarries in the Peak District to near Birmingham."

Any career advice?

Don’t be afraid to take the plunge, do what interests you not what is safe.

School

I went to Don Valley High School in Doncaster and loved school, although it was a bit rough! My favourite subject was Maths and I was part of the local Chess Club. After school I went to Huddersfield University where I studied Business and Logistics.

Into work

My first role after university was working for a brewer, Molson Coors (Carling), as a tele-account manager looking after pub groups in the South and Midlands. I’ve had a number of jobs in between more related to my degree in logistics: I managed the fuel deliveries for Drax Power Station in Yorkshire which produces electricity for the whole of the UK. However, I’ve circled back into a customer management role, albeit now in the rail rather than the beer industry!

Training and qualifications

I had a brief stint in the shipping industry where I did the BIMCO Laytime and Demurrage Course. I have also studied for my CMI Management and Leadership qualification alongside work.

Outside of work

Watching football and spending time with my young children.

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