Meet the Team

We continue to shine the spotlight on the next generation at Cefetra.

23 October 2020

We are welcoming starters and graduates to the exciting world of the Agricultural sector. 2020 continues to be a tough time for the majority of businesses, but Cefetra has continued to maintain business and grow our team as we work through the midst of it all, supporting the supply of agricultural goods, grains and various raw materials.

We want to celebrate the young people in the Agricultural sector as they grow together. For some of our team it has been an even more challenging time as they have started a new job during a pandemic, but they have certainly adapted well! It’s an exciting period ahead for this latest fresh batch of Cefetra recruits!

Today, we introduce to you some members of our Execution team. Meet Nathan, Alastair and Emma, who have been hard at work lately in the Glasgow offices!

Name: Nathan Hartley (based in Glasgow)

Team: UK Grains

What do you love most about your job?

Being back in the office means that we are able to work more together as a team, you realise what you miss about it when working from home. It’s interesting to be in the Agri industry as I haven’t worked in it before, having studied Logistics at Uni, the Agricultural side is very interesting indeed. Take for instance the Harvest season period which feeds directly into people’s lives, sparking conversation with people, and you feel like you have a lot more knowledge and experience of the Agri culture to share with others who are intrigued by the industry.

Five words that describe you.

Positive, relaxed, calm under pressure, honest – pride myself on this, musical.

Where did you join from (if from College or Uni what did you study?)

I have worked in logistics, and the events side at a charity, then I was fortunate enough to find a role at Cefetra which was an industry that kept going forward during recent months, I’m lucky to have come at the right time.

What area are you working in at Cefetra?

Grain Execution; we get the request come in from the Mills, in regards to wheat and barley, with people requesting how many loads they want on so many days – then we look what has been brought by Farm buyers, we then have to arrange the haulage side, and have to sort the niggly bits in the background out and respond to last minute panics when the farmer can’t load, or the mill rejects what has arrived etc.

What are your aspirations?

Happy to get my head down and stuck into this job and try to do a good a job in this role and eventually see if there are any other jobs at Cefetra, knowledge in this industry peaks my interest, I am going with the flow at the moment really.

How have you got on with working from home in 2020?

It has been okay but coming back to work has made me realise how valuable being part of the team and how vital communication is within your team, everyone was very supportive at the start, going back to the office I have realised how much I’ve come on and developed. Now I’m in a routine of working every other week from home and have gained more responsibility during this period. It’s important when working from home to make sure computer systems and phones are able to work smoothly and as long as that has been working then all has been fine!

What’s it like to work at Cefetra how would you describe the work culture?

The different roles are so varied across the different teams at Cefetra, there is 8 in our team at the moment. I am still fairly new to the team; it’s been harder to get to know each other during these times but everyone has been incredibly supportive of each other. It’s a friendly environment and place to work and we all get on well – Cefetra does feel like a close-knit community.

Name: Alister Macluskie (based in Glasgow)

Team: UK Grains

What do you love most about your job?

Having to think on my feet and be involved in the decision-making sides of things. Dynamic, no two days the same, get a lot of different people to talk to, deal with different people.

Five words that describe you?

Co-operative, accommodating, professional, sociable, musical.

Where did you join from (if from College or Uni what did you study?)

I worked for Car Phone Warehouse before embarking on a new journey at Cefetra.

What area are you working in at Cefetra?

I handle the execution side of grains, handling and sorting out the wheat and barley that comes in from the mills, so I deal more so with domestic farming.

What are your aspirations?

This is a new sector and industry for me, so I’m learning how it all works as I go along. Currently I want to wait and see how far I can go up in the company and progress, performing the job the best I can and climb my way upwards basically is the end goal!

How have you got on with working from home in 2020?

Timing was hard joining in January, it certainly threw me in at the deep end, it was hard initially not having the interaction, but I’ve adapted well.

What’s it like to work at Cefetra how would you describe the work culture?

We all get on well and it’s a great work culture, no one is scared to help each other out, shouldering tasks together. It’s always a collaborative effort at Cefetra.

Name: Emma Strachan (based in Glasgow)

Team: UK Grains

What do you love most about your job?

I am new to the role, but every day is very varied! You’re always working on different types of task or there’s a new hurdle to overcome. The fast-paced nature of the role and constant challenges is always good – the team have been amazing answering my questions as I ease into the role. It’s very different to what I was doing before, the team have been so helpful they don’t mind you asking questions.

Five words that describe you?

Organised, good listener, very approachable, kind and friendly, a perfectionist!

Where did you join from (if from College or Uni what did you study?)

I was a Logistics coordinator and manager for a high-end interior design company.

What area are you working in at Cefetra?

I’m part of the Grain team, dealing with – Execution, Stock and Logistics.
I’ve been in the office most of the time since I started in July and have been able to have that interaction that you need when starting a new role.

What are your aspirations?

At the moment to learn the role as best that I can, be a valuable team member, and be relied on by others, so that I too can be the point of contact for the rest of my team.

What’s it like to work at Cefetra how would you describe the work culture?

Everybody is so so friendly and helpful with any questions that you have and will show you exactly what you need to do. It’s been different starting during Covid-19, for instance you go on your lunch and can’t sit and talk with each other properly, but everyone is still so chatty– the culture is really great.