NNR UK’s success at The Big Logistics Diversity Challenge

On Thursday, 20 June 2024, NNR Global Logistics UK proudly participated in The Big Logistics Diversity Challenge. Our dedicated team, WiNNRs, was comprised of 10 enthusiastic members from our London, Manchester and Wellingborough branches. United by a common goal, our team embraced the spirit of diversity and teamwork throughout the event.

A platform for promoting the importance of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (ED&I) across the logistics industry

Since its inception in 2019, The Big Logistics Diversity Challenge has championed the importance of Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (ED&I) in the logistics and warehousing sectors. The event gathers industry professionals to explore how diversity can be addressed collaboratively through both physical and mental team-building challenges. It also provides organisations with an opportunity to share best practices, network, build teams and contribute to creating a more inclusive sector, all while recognising and rewarding employees with a fun and adventurous day.

Team ‘WiNNRs’ takes on the challenges

After an early arrival and registration, team WiNNRs were provided with their team t-shirts and prepared for a day of adventure. The morning began with a hearty breakfast and inspiring introductory speeches from the event organisers, it was then time to dive into the challenges!

The first challenge of the day was a true test of “team-building”. In this activity, participants teamed up in pairs with the task of collecting as many foam ‘packing chips’ as possible and transporting them through a series of inflatable obstacles. The twist? One partner was blindfolded and had to rely on their teammate to navigate through the course. This exercise highlighted essential skills like effective communication, continuous encouragement, trust and agility.

Next up was laughing yoga, a fun and unique activity where our team faced off in a “laugh-off” against another group. The session concluded with the WiNNRs emerging victorious. It set a dynamic tone for the day, gearing the team up for the challenges that lay ahead.

A day filled with fun and team spirit

The afternoon featured a variety of challenges, including football darts, basketball, a rope maze and an obstacle course. Our team’s collaborative efforts and mutual encouragement shone through, as they tackled each challenge with enthusiasm.

After tackling a few more challenges, including the silent disco and haka, it was time for a well-deserved lunch and water break. By the halfway point, the team was holding a 12th position overall, performing admirably across all activities. Following some encouraging words over lunch, it was time to dive into the second half of the day’s events.

Next up was volleyball, followed by a challenging group dance routine. Given just 10 minutes to learn the routine from a choreographer, the team faced a tough task, but they rose to the occasion. Performing to Michael Jackson’s ‘Beat It’, everyone gave their best effort to keep up with the fast-paced steps and turns. After plenty of laughs, they delivered an excellent performance.

One of the most entertaining activities was the catwalk challenge. The team had 10 minutes to create three distinct headdresses from various craft materials, followed by 5 minutes to model them on the catwalk. With extra points awarded for exuberance, the NNR team truly stood out, captivating onlookers and earning top scores for their creativity and energy.

A strong finish and a commitment to diversity

The day wrapped up with a few final challenges before the event’s conclusion.

Team ‘WiNNRs’ achieved a solid 10^th place out of 36 teams.

It was a commendable effort from all involved, contributing to relationship-building and raising awareness of diversity within the logistics industry.

We extend our appreciation to the organisers for a well-executed event that brought the industry together. Our gratitude also goes to our exceptional team, WiNNRs– Alexander Tennant, Annette O’Donnell, Chris Lifford, Emma Roberts, Gary Strange, John McBride, Lee Woodward, Manu Degun, Richard Bates, Richard Wright and Viviane Gough.

Our participation to the #BLDC2024 underscored our commitment to socially responsible practices, reflected in NNR’s Sustainability Policy. We promote diversity and provide workplace environments where every employee can excel.