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• Claire

Meet our people

University: UCL (University College London)
Degree type: Italian and Business Studies BA Hons (2:1)
Location: London

How long have you been at GSK?
I started at GSK in September 2005, just a couple of months after graduating.

What made you apply to GSK?
I first heard about the development programme opportunities at GSK via GAP Activities Projects. GSK sponsors GAP and whilst in my final year at UCL I was given the opportunity to spend a day at GSK House at an event called ‘GSK Revealed’ which provided me with an opportunity to learn more about GSK as a company and what each of the development programmes involved.

What made you apply to the Procurement Development Programme?
The ‘GSK Revealed’ event gave me the opportunity to talk to current graduates about the work they were involved in and their experiences so far. Their enthusiasm led me to investigate purchasing further and apply for a place on the Prospects In Procurement Scheme.

What was your first role?
My first role was working in Primary Supply Procurement. I spent my first nine months at GSK House managing the relationships with a number of suppliers for a number of active pharmaceutical products. For the final three months of my time in Primary Supply I was based at the Worthing site where I developed an understanding of the challenges faced at site.

What have been your subsequent roles?
Last September I moved into the Global eSourcing Team where I have had the opportunity to learn more about the systems used within Procurement. The Global eSourcing Team supports all of Procurement and this has allowed me to further develop my knowledge of other Procurement areas. In September I will move into International Procurement and will spend at least part of my year abroad.

What kind of support do you get?
In my first year I also had a lot of support from the Director and Vice President along with my wider team. This was vital in enabling me to understand the background of my projects and also gave me great confidence to question the business. Over the past two years I have been actively encouraged to enrol on a number of the training courses which are available to those within Procurement.

What is the company culture like for you?
When I first started at GSK I was struck by how big the organisation is and how much there was for me to learn. The open and friendly culture not only helped me to learn about the organisation quickly it also made it an enjoyable experience.

What is your work/life balance like?
My working day generally starts at 8.30am and I normally leave the office at about 5.30pm. There is no expectation that will be working outside of these hours and my weekends are generally work-free.

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