Our People – Company Values

My name is Marina Marin, I am 25 years old and I come from Spain.  Some people might think: “How did a Spanish lady end up in the UK Harvesting industry?” For that reason, I would like to explain to you a little bit more about me and my journey with Tilhill Forestry;

What do you do? Tell us about your typical day? 

I am the Supply Chain Controller for the northern BSW mills. Therefore, my main responsibility is to schedule and monitor the log intake at BSW Boat of Garten and at BSW Fort William. However, as easy as it can sound, it is a challenging daily task.

I would not say that there is such a thing as a “typical day”. Every day is different and new tasks and priorities appear. As you might know, the industry is rapidly changing and adaptation is one of the most important required characteristics to perform this role. Of course, there are daily tasks such as monitoring roundwood deliveries or contracts management.

How did you get into harvesting? 

In 2016, I joined the BSW Timber Group for the first time and I started working as a warehouse assistant. Due to the fact I still needed to complete my studies, I temporarily left the business and to go to Seoul, South Korea, to finish my honours degree. Why South Korea? Well, I did study Translation and Interpretation and I specialised in Asian languages such as Japanese and Korean.

In 2017, I got the opportunity to re-join the business. This time, it was to be in the administrative department and in the warehouse. As an admin, I previously dealt with roundwood invoices and other related tasks. Not long after, a job opportunity with Tilhill Forestry arose and I decided it was time to keep challenging myself. Therefore, the Supply Chain Controller role has been my starting point in the harvesting industry with Tilhill Forestry.   

What do you like most about working in the forestry/ harvesting industry?

The people within the sector is what I like the most. For example, being able to interact not only with our harvesting team, also with other suppliers like Forestry and Land Scotland, Euroforest, Iggesund, Scottish Woodlands, etc.

However, my role is not limited to dealing with suppliers. The relationship with our customer, BSW Timber, is vitally important.  Therefore, I consider myself as the connection between the harvesting teams and the mills.

Why did you decide to work for Tilhill Forestry? 

I think that working for a company means more than performing a role or earning a salary. It is directly related to your beliefs and values. For this reason, I thought that Tilhill Forestry would be a good company to work for. Not only because of being a leading company in the sector but also because of the values that it is trying to share and implement across the sector.

What do you like most about Tilhill Forestry? 

When I first started, I did not know many people within the company. However, I realised in a short period of time that everybody in Tilhill and BSW was unique. I was amazed by the professionalism, politeness, individual skills and experience from those who I was progressively meeting. All those characteristics have really inspired me at a professional and personal level.

What sorts of changes are occurring in your occupation? 

Technological improvements such as system optimisations, communication and data visibility have been the most important changes since I started this role. As a company, those upgrades have made us work in a more efficient and structured manner.

How does a person progress in your field? 

I think there are several aspects to take into account in order to progress in the log supply. First, experience and being well informed of the market situation will always provide a background for assertive decision making. Having high work standards and improving on time management will make the role efficient. Also, being able to adapt yourself and the role to new situations is an important feature in order to progress. Finally, the most important is to give your best every day at work to become better.

What is your advice to anyone wishing to pursue harvesting as a career?

After experiencing working with Tilhill and BSW I can honestly say: Do not think twice, if harvesting is what you are interested in, go for it! It does not matter what your age, gender, nationality or background is. There are no real boundaries if you are enthusiastic, willing to learn and not afraid of challenge.