At the end of 2022, Jan van der Heiden set foot in Quooker’s headquarters for the first time. As a Master’s student in Supply Chain, he had signed up through his university for a company tour. “I had already had Quooker on my radar for a while. It seemed like an interesting company, not only because of the boiling water tap, but also because it’s neither a multinational nor a small SME, but something in between.”

During the tour, he struck up a conversation with the then supply chain manager. There was an immediate connection, and that very same afternoon Jan secured an internship at Quooker. His assignment: to develop a plan for a newly implemented supplier portal.

Out in the field Jan: “During that internship, I was given a lot of freedom. I was encouraged to go out, visit suppliers, have conversations and identify issues. I learned a tremendous amount — about our own production process, but also about the companies we work with and about myself, for example that I thrive with this level of independence. Guided by my internship supervisor, I wrote a plan that the department could really build on. I enjoyed it so much that towards the end of my internship I spoke up: that open vacancy — could that be something for me? Right after graduating, I started as a tactical buyer.”

Travelling abroad Since August 2023, Jan has been responsible for purchasing various product categories needed to produce Quooker systems, ranging from electronics to cables and circuit boards. “To make sure we work with the right partners, a lot of market research is required. I visit suppliers every week, including abroad. Sometimes I make as many as four trips in a month. Yes, I’m thrown in at the deep end, but I have a team around me that’s always there to support me when needed. There’s a family-like atmosphere at Quooker: making mistakes is allowed, and if you get stuck, you’ll be helped. A year ago, I wouldn’t have dared to dream that I’d land such a great job in such a short time.”

Published on 17-04-2024