Name: Sam Cassidy
Job title: Order Fulfilment Manager
Tell us a bit about yourself
I mainly spend the majority of my time away from work chasing around my cocker spaniel Arlo or my one year old daughter Amelie. Having a busy lifestyle with lots to do and look forward to has always suited me. There are no real breaks from the chaos as my only other hobbies at the moment are suffering as a Manchester United fan and training for running events, including the Hull 10k earlier this month. When I do finally wind down (usually at 8pm on a Sunday) you’ll find me on the couch with a takeaway and a TV series on the screen.
Describe your job to a five-year-old
I manage a team of people who help to sell toilets to the UK and Ireland.
What do you like most about your job?
The variety of people and challenges to deal with. No two days are the same in supply chain. It’s not always easy and customers can be difficult but knowing I have the right people around me to get the answers I need is always fulfilling. I’ve made some great friends in the two and a half years I’ve worked here, across multiple channels, and I’ve learnt a lot about the business.
How did you get here?
I initially studied a history degree in pursuit of becoming a teacher in around 2018, working at William Hill as a cashier during my studies. Lots of restructures occurred and I realised that teaching probably wasn’t for me when I found myself managing my own shop at 21. The challenge of managing a team, shop figures and working closely with the area manager was a career path I was then keen to work towards. I spent a couple of years managing my own shop and working at racecourses around the country before my progression path to area manager was halted by a company restructure at William Hill.
I found myself looking for roles in a large business with career stability on offer. I took an interview at Ideal Standard in Sept 2022 and started four weeks later as a co-ordinator within the independents channel. I loved the team and the supply chain setting quite quickly. I then moved to the Ireland team before becoming team leader in August 2023. I have recently become the manager of the Order Fulfilment set-up in Hull and I’m looking forward to working on a new structure and bringing in leaders to work with me in the new world of V&B/ISI.
What motivates you?
My family, providing for them and giving them everything I can whether at work or at home.
If you could swap jobs with anyone, who would it be?
Ruben Amorim, Manchester United Head Coach – I’d probably do a better job at the moment too.
Your favourite song lyric or line from a film
“Life’s a b*tch and then you die” – Illmatic by Nas.
Your favourite app?
Twitter/X.
Biggest facepalm moment at work?
As a fresh faced 18 year old on shift at William Hill, I was sat behind the till scrolling on my phone with a ‘customer’ at the counter. I ignored him for a good 30 seconds before seeing his lanyard and him asking me some questions about the shop promos at the time. It dawned on me when my manager at the time came back from his break that this was the regional manager of the northern cluster. Never felt so red faced in my life.