Search

Last year, the Taylors Supply Team welcomed three new Supply Trainees – Jasmine Feingold, Saffron Wright and Tom Whitaker. Over the next two years, Jasmine, Saffron and Tom will train in and support the team across the areas of Tea, Coffee and Packaging Buying, Responsible Sourcing, and Scientific and Regulatory Affairs.

During their placements, they’ll participate in tea and coffee tastings to start to develop a palate for professional tasting; work alongside our buyers to gain a thorough understanding of sourcing strategies and forecasting; and develop a strong understanding of tea and coffee manufacturing processes, both within our factory and at origin.

They’ll also build their knowledge of social and environmental sustainability and responsible buying practices to support the delivery of Taylors Sourcing Approach (TSA)– our unique values-led approach to sourcing high quality tea, coffee and packaging.

After their two-year traineeship and focus on development, they’ll be ready for their next role in Supply – hopefully at Taylors!

Hannah Eatough, Head of Coffee Buying, at Taylors said:

As Jasmine, Saffron and Tom complete their first rotations in Taylors, they shared their insights about how they’ve found their first few months at Taylors.

Saffron Wright began her rotation with the Responsible Sourcing team: “In my first few months at Taylors, I’ve seen the incredible work our Supply teams do to deliver quality tea and coffee. Learning about the care, complexity, and collaboration involved from producers at origin through buying and logistics all the way to the factory teams has been eye opening. I’ve especially enjoyed learning about our Taylors Sourcing Approach and how it helps create a positive impact for the communities we rely on. It’s also been lovely to spend time with teams across the business, from Innovation and International to Hospitality and Finance. The strong teamwork and close relationships across Bettys & Taylors make it a genuinely welcoming place to work.”

Jasmine started in the Scientific & Regulatory Affairs team: “To summarise my experience at Taylors so far in just a few words is no easy task. I’ve had the privilege of working across several teams within the Supply department, bringing constant variety, learning, and excitement – no two days are the same. What stands out most is the people, who have welcomed me so warmly. I’m currently in my second placement – the Tea Team, where spending time in the tasting room and learning to taste has been both a steep learning curve and a lot of fun.

Taylors has shown a strong culture of openness and a real willingness to share knowledge and passion unlike anywhere else I’ve worked. From logistics and technical detail to the tea and coffee itself, I’m continually being introduced to a world I’m very grateful to now be part of because anyone who knows me knows my absolute love and passion for the industry itself. So being able to be alongside a whole team who share this passion is very fulfilling. I can’t wait to continue learning as I move throughout the rest of the supply department, and doing so with two other Supply Chain Trainees has been a really great experience so far.”

Tom Whitaker began his rotation with the Coffee team and has now moved to the Responsible Sourcing team: “I’ve had an amazing start to the traineeship. Having started in coffee, I have learned so much about quality, markets, logistics, and supplier relationships. It has also been great to work with colleagues from all over the business and build strong relationships with my colleagues. I’ve also enjoyed enjoyed external visits, such as visiting some of our customers, or an educational seminar with the British Coffee Association (BCA). It was great to see how respected Bettys & Taylors is as a business, and how our work is valued by many around the industry. I’ve just started in Responsible Sourcing, so I’m looking forward to deepening my knowledge about the positive difference we make at origin through value chain investment and working with certification bodies.”