Honor Bagnall turned her decision to leave university into a successful logistics career
At just 23, Honor Bagnall is managing a team of transport planners, around 80 drivers and up to 50 heavy goods vehicles, having turned a difficult decision to leave university into a successful career in logistics.
Now a Transport Manager at WS Transport, Honor has risen rapidly through the ranks after initially entering the industry in a warehouse role.
Her journey began when she decided to leave university after completing the first year of a Childhood Studies degree, having realised that teaching was not the career she wanted to pursue.
“I left after my first year when I decided that teaching was not the career path for me,” she said.
“It was a very scary and intimidating decision to make due to the stigma of dropping out of university, but it was one of the best decisions I have ever made.”
Despite her initial concerns, the decision opened the door to opportunities in logistics, allowing her to develop practical skills and take on increasing responsibilities.
Honor began working in a warehouse, where she supported her manager with administrative tasks, introduced new processes and helped organise staff rotas.
Her abilities soon led to a temporary placement in the transport department, which was experiencing staffing shortages at the time.
After quickly adapting to the role, she was encouraged to apply for a permanent position as a transport clerk, gaining valuable experience in the day-to-day running of transport operations.
Determined to progress further, Honor later spotted a transport planner vacancy at WS Transport on Indeed and successfully applied for the position.
She took on additional responsibilities while learning new operational systems and processes, demonstrating the problem-solving skills and initiative that would help accelerate her career.
Her efforts were recognised, and she has now spent the past 12 months in a management role overseeing four transport planners, approximately 80 drivers and up to 50 Class 1 vehicles.
Although logistics was not part of her original career plans, Honor believes her logical approach, motivation and ability to solve problems have helped her succeed.
Her experience playing rugby has also proved valuable, strengthening her teamwork, decision-making and ability to handle challenging situations under pressure.
One of her proudest achievements has been taking a leading role in introducing a new operational system across the business.
“Becoming the first super user of a new system that was introduced is something which stands out to me,” she said.
She also developed practical guides to help colleagues understand the system when it was launched, with the materials subsequently distributed across the company's network.
“It was a proud moment, especially considering that, at 23, I’m in a position where I can contribute at that level within a business as large as WS Transport.”
Honor said the experience demonstrated how far she had progressed and highlighted the opportunities available to young people entering the logistics industry.
Her career journey has been highlighted by Generation Logistics, an industry-backed initiative promoting employment opportunities and challenging misconceptions about careers in the sector.
Bethany Windsor, Programme Director at Generation Logistics, said Honor's achievements demonstrated that age should not be a barrier to taking on significant responsibilities.
“Being the youngest person in the room should never prevent people from reaching their full potential. Honor is a great example of how you can make your mark early in your career.”
She praised Honor's determination to overcome setbacks and continue pursuing her ambitions, despite initially taking an unconventional route into employment.
“Through her determination and perseverance, she continued to pursue her career goals despite facing setbacks. Now, in a management role, she’s taking on greater responsibilities and playing an important part in the continued growth of the business.”
Generation Logistics is encouraging young people considering their future careers to explore the range of opportunities available across the industry.
The initiative offers a Find Your Future career quiz, designed to help individuals identify logistics roles suited to their interests and abilities.
Honor's progression from warehouse employee to transport manager at 23 highlights how practical experience, determination and a willingness to take opportunities can provide alternative routes into leadership positions.