Claire Tomlinson is our senior logistics manager for the Midlands, a new role for her after working within our commercial teams in the business since 2005. Claire talks about her transition support into a new division of Tarmac and what the talent function has done for her professionally and personally.

Claire joined the business back in 2005, having spent the early years of her professional career working in an estate agency. Like many colleagues who have transitioned from different industries, Claire was able to transfer her skills into our sales team as an internal sales coordinator. Claire’s skills were utilised in a variety of teams and roles, ranging from direct sales and customer service to regional and national distribution teams. After taking an internal sales manager position in 2016, Claire settled into the position well for a number of years.

In 2022, Claire was ready for a new challenge and was a regular viewer of our internal vacancies' distribution list. A conversation with a colleague in HR over potential interest in a role in logistics is where Claire was empowered and encouraged to try something new: “I was talking about the role and listing all the things that I didn’t have. He just stopped me in my tracks and made me talk about what I did have. He changed my whole mindset and explained that so many of my skills were transferrable.” It was clearly sound advice for Claire who, after having an informal conversation with the hiring manager, submitted a CV. After two rounds of interviews, Claire was offered the job as senior logistics manager after a whole Tarmac career in sales.

Taking advantage in the moment, Claire also utilised Tarmac’s specialist talent function, and made the most of skill-set analysis, personality profiling and a future talent mapping conversation. Reflecting on the positive support she’d received after expressing interest in a change, Claire cited numerous examples of the support she’d received throughout her recent transition: “I’ve seen first-hand how important it is and how serious we are as a business about developing people. My enthusiasm and open-minded approach were mirrored, and it gave me so much confidence.

“I’m new into the role now and I sit with senior stakeholders in my region who want me to do well and are constantly offering support. Having a dedicated talent resource just shows that the ethos is genuine, and I know I’m not the only person to benefit.” Claire’s development journey continues to thrive, as she now works with a career mentor external to the Tarmac business, as well as taking part in our MDP (management development programme). MDP is a bespoke leadership development programme designed to help build the necessary skills and capabilities to lead high-performing teams and deliver against strategic priorities.