At CWE, we’re proud to be part of the UK rail industry. We believe it’s a great place to work and that our friendly team showcases the best of the sector. In this series, Life at CWE, we’ll be providing a glimpse into the life of our staff. We hope this will give readers a sense of the work our brilliant people do and the diverse range of talents and skills that make up the world of rail engineering.
This month, we sit down with Gary Allott, our Stores and Procurement Team Leader.
What is your role at CWE, and what does a typical day look like for you?
As the Stores and Procurement Team Leader, my day starts early — I’m responsible for opening the gates, unlocking the site, and making sure everything is ready to go. Once that’s done, I catch up on any paperwork from the previous day and double-check that all goods have been booked in correctly.
From there, no two days are the same. I might be preparing items for dispatch, receiving new deliveries, carrying out our monthly stock checks, or ordering workshop and office consumables to keep our stock levels healthy. I also handle a variety of ad-hoc requests from staff, always making sure we get the best value for whatever needs to be ordered.
What do you enjoy about your job?
I really enjoy cross checking deliveries — there’s something satisfying about making sure everything’s in order and gets to the right person. It’s great knowing I play a part in keeping things moving and getting the job done.
I’ve recently taken on the procurement side of my role, and I’m absolutely loving it! I enjoy finding the best deals for CWE — I’m naturally pretty careful with money in my own life, so it feels like a perfect fit. It’s rewarding to save the company money and know I’m helping the team.
What I enjoy most, though, is the people. Everyone here is genuinely lovely — it’s a great team to be part of, and that makes it easy to work hard every day.
What do you find most rewarding about your job?
I find it really rewarding knowing that when parts are delivered and a job is completed, I’ve played my part in helping the team succeed. Being part of a successful, collaborative team is something I genuinely enjoy and take pride in.
Since joining almost a year ago, I’ve created some new internal files that have become an integral part of our processes. It means a lot to me that something I implemented is being widely used and making a real difference — it’s something I’m really proud of.
I’ve also recently been enrolled in a Procurement and Supply Environments (CIPS) course, with my first exam coming up in November. I’m proud to be taking steps to develop my skills and continuously improve in my role.
What advice would you give to an apprentice just starting out?
As an apprentice, always be ready to listen and absorb as much information as you can — think of your brain as a sponge and never stop wanting to learn. Above all, show up on time and give your best effort. The little things really matter, and anyone can be punctual and committed. CWE is a fantastic company to work for, and if you look after the company, the company will look after you.
Tell me something interesting about yourself!
I’m very family-oriented. My wife, our four-year-old daughter Ivy, and I enjoy going on road trips every year, and since my wife loves Michelin-star restaurants, we’re always discovering new culinary experiences together. We also have passes to historic houses, so we visit them whenever I’m not at work. I really love making memories with my family.
