Logistics graduate embarks on African adventure with Transaid

A graduate from Norbert Dentressangle has swapped the UK for the sweltering heat of Tanzania, on a six month secondment with international development charity, Transaid.

Rebecca Smith, 26, who has worked for Norbert Dentressangle for three years, flew out to Dar es Salaam as part of her two-year Fast Track Talent Programme placement with the logistics specialist.

Rebecca will be supporting Transaid and Tanzania’s National Institute of Transport (NIT) on a number of initiatives including the Professional Driver Training Project, which promotes the improvement of driver training standards and develops programmes to help enhance driver competence, road safety and the efficient use of commercial vehicles.

She will be continuing the work of last year’s graduate Artem Avdeev, who worked with local fleet managers and transport companies to help them understand the benefits their drivers would receive by undertaking the training courses.  Rebecca will also be responsible for managing NIT’s training garage, developing revenue sources and running practical courses.

“I’m so excited and privileged to be working for such a fantastic organisation.  The partnership between Norbert Dentressangle and Transaid is one that is taken very seriously by everyone in my company and I’ll be giving all my colleagues back in the UK regular updates on all the things I get involved with,” said Rebecca.

Jacqueline Hector, Transaid’s Corporate Partnerships Manager, said: “It’s really great that Norbert Dentressangle supports Transaid by placing their graduates out in Africa with us.  Not only does it expose the work of Transaid to a new generation, who join our projects with great enthusiasm and new perspectives on tackling transport issues, but it also gives Norbert Dentressangle’s graduate programme a real edge making it one of the most popular in the industry.”

Norbert Dentressangle’s Fast Track Talent Programme is a two year programme consisting of four six month placements in different areas of the business such as warehousing and transport planning, as well as the opportunity to work overseas.  For more information about next year’s programme visit http://hr.norbert-dentressangle.co.uk/Our-Opportunities/Graduate-Programme and to follow Rebecca’s time in Tanzania visit her blog at http://projecttanzania2013.wordpress.com