Mark in Action Winners' Stories: Mercia Park Pioneers

Our Mark in Action awards are a testament to the individuals and teams who embody The Unipart Way, in the way they think, work and behave to deliver value for our customers.

The “Mercia Park Pioneers” team, consisting of Maria McBride, Steve Goode, and Spencer Stack, were recognised for their dedication in developing cutting-edge digital tools to enhance the recruitment process for JLR’s new Global Parts Logistics Centre at Mercia Park .

Faced with the challenge of attracting talent to a site still under construction, the team collaborated with a digital provider to create a virtual flythrough of the future facility. This immersive experience, posted across social media platforms, allowed potential employees to visualise the site and understand the opportunities available.

Furthermore, the team developed a virtual reality simulated warehouse operation. This innovative tool allowed new recruits to familiarise themselves with picking and packing processes in a virtual environment before stepping onto the physical warehouse floor.

These tools have now become integral to Unipart’s recruitment strategy.

Nominator Nathan Jones, Head of Quality, Compliance, Safety and Sustainability Mercia Park, said, “Steve, Maria and Spencer went over and above what we were expecting to deliver two exceptional pieces of work.

All three are Operations Managers and were busy also doing their day jobs in addition to taking on what was a very technical, digital project. It was totally outside of their comfort zones as they don’t have a digital background, but they really applied themselves.

The fly through alone attracted 200 people to the landing page after being live for only six weeks. The level of detail that the team went in to ensure full engagement with internal and customer interfaces provided two examples that we are going to share with the rest of Unipart to see what can be achieved at other sites.”

You can view the fly through here: https://www.unipartjobs.com/mercia

The judging panel was deeply impressed by the Mercia Park Pioneers' efforts. They praised the team's "agility and creativity," highlighting the "first-rate" quality of the YouTube film. The judges noted the "attention to detail" and commended the team for "going beyond their comfort zone." They also appreciated the "non-traditional thinking" employed to overcome "non-traditional challenges." In essence, the judges recognised the team's remarkable ability to innovate and deliver exceptional results, demonstrating Unipart’s commitment to pushing boundaries.

The Next Mark in Action ceremony will take place on Wednesday 28th May, 2025. If there is an individual or group in your team who you think deserves recognition then please send in your nomination by using the form here.

If you aren't sure whether your story is a Mark in Action or not, just contact Katie Geddes Mark in Action Manager, who is happy to advise and support you through the process.

You can find out more about Mark in Action awards here.