Just over a year ago, the LMB welcomed Neil Sands as the new Stores Manager. In this role, Neil leads a team which oversees the inspection, receipting, handling, storage and distribution of all deliveries into the building. He also manages stock levels for over 500 high-volume consumables essential for labwork and coordinates replenishment services including satellite cupboard restocking, cryogenics and compressed gas cylinder replacement.
Neil brings extensive experience in engineering, operations and logistics, having worked for major engineering and pharmaceutical companies. His career path has spanned technical roles in logistics and supply chain management, with a brief detour into football— “a career that didn’t take off,” he jokes.
At the LMB, Neil’s day begins with a team check-in to ensure coverage and readiness. He then moves on to emails, price checks, stock monitoring, and team coordination. Since starting, he has worked tirelessly with colleagues across the LMB to implement a new purchasing and ordering system, a major systems upgrade with wide-reaching ramifications for staff. Neil helped manage this project, responding to the significant changes it brought to his team’s workload whilst successfully limiting the impact felt by researchers across the LMB. Additionally, he is also working to incorporate new sustainability initiatives throughout the services provided by the team.
Neil commented, “The LMB is a great environment to work in, and everyone has been very welcoming. In the Stores team, we get to interact with so many people, and it feels great to play a small part in assisting with all the research projects across the LMB.”
Looking ahead, Neil is excited about plans to reorganise the Stores layout and revamp the front desk to better showcase new products.
The Stores Team and their continually replenished counter of goods is an integral service at the LMB. Greatly appreciated by researchers across the Lab and fondly remembered by alumni, their stellar reputation is well-earned.
Further references
Building and Facilities
Poppy Marriott appointed Scientific Services and Sustainability Manager