Richard Crook

MSc Supply Chain Management

When Richard discovered Birmingham City University had introduced a mainly distance-learning Master’s course blended with campus-based tutorial support, he saw a way of advancing his capabilities through a study course compatible with life with a young family.

Sponsored by his company, the MSc in Supply Chain Management enabled him to develop supply chain management skills relevant to the challenges he regularly faced in managing the logistics for moving valuable, often bulky and complex machinery and products from Brazil to the UK and Europe.

Richard says: “I valued highly the opportunity to gain greater, in-depth knowledge of distribution channels, materials management and human resource management skills, as well as learning through sharing experience with fellow students.”

His professional commitment and enthusiasm saw Richard excel in all aspects of his course. The overall high-level of his performance made him the natural recipient of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (UK) Prize for his graduation year.

Richard’s Course Director, Dennis Foster, says: “Richard is one of the first Supply Chain Management MSc students to graduate having had the course delivered by flexible, blended learning. He is the first postgraduate student I can remember to gain distinctions, both for his course work and his major project dissertation. He thoroughly deserves the Institute’s prize.”

As he considers possible overseas career development, Richard intends to pursue further work-based training.