Exciting place to work but can be frustrating (Purchasing)
Pros
- Talented workforce - better than most places I've worked. You get to work with smart people and collaborate on interesting projects - Great brand image and great company to have on CV. Products look amazing - JLR really invest in training. Voted employer of the year for a reason - growth makes this an exciting place to work. A campus buzz on large sites like Gaydon and Whitley
Cons
- very hierarchical. Difficult to get things done, always having to go through seniority chain to achieve even the basics. No trust. - process heavy, yet the thousands of processes are not centrally stored or easily located. You have to ask people what they 'think' and may get lucky in finding the process owner one day - clunky processes mean company is slow to react and innovate. It feels like a dinosaur at times - Buyers spend incredible amounts of time (60%+) doing admin and account management activities, in place of commercial responsibilities - Very much tactical and reactive. Role is more suited to admin staff. Going back to point one above, this is because seniors want to make all the decisions then expect buyers to execute their plan even if it's a bad business deal. You get to do all the fun paperwork and chasing! - classic silo mentality. Departments often work against each other - rapid expansion has meant people spread very thinly. Difficult to do a quality job. Overtime expected but you will not be paid extra! - Leadership only concerned with price. Quality takes a back seat. -Parking facilities at Gaydon are horrific. There is often nowhere to park, you end up parking on a verge and get business protection writing up a parking infringement and reporting your car to your line manager. Not fit for a multibillio pound company! - pay is low compared to peers