When Hannah Cole began her apprenticeship at Baker Hughes, she was already recognised as a reliable and committed member of the logistics team. But what has unfolded over the course of her programme was a transformation that elevated her from a capable contributor to an emerging leader; one whose decisions, behaviours and initiative have made a measurable difference across a complex and fast‑moving global operation.
“The apprenticeship has been transformational,” Hannah reflects. “It strengthened my confidence, sharpened my communication and leadership skills, and gave me the practical knowledge to progress in a role I’m truly passionate about.”
Her journey has taken place against the backdrop of significant functional change within logistics. It’s been a period that demanded resilience, adaptability and forward‑thinking from every member of the team. For Hannah, it became the perfect environment to put her learning into practice and demonstrate her growing impact.
Learning That Translated Immediately Into Real‑World Results
From the outset, Hannah embraced her apprenticeship with the highest level of commitment. Lauren Milward, her Instep specialist coach, saw this immediately.
“Hannah gives 110% to all aspects of her apprenticeship,” Lauren says. “She approaches every learning opportunity with maturity, passion and a drive for excellence. What really sets her apart is how seamlessly she integrates her new skills and behaviours into her day‑to‑day role.”
As the logistics function at Baker Hughes underwent major transformation, Hannah found herself positioned at the centre of change management activity. She applied her learning directly to help realign interim logistics processes, maintain business continuity and support teams navigating uncertainty.
“The environment was changing around us,” Hannah explains. “My apprenticeship helped me stay adaptable, communicate clearly and problem‑solve when things became complex. Those behaviours were essential during some of the biggest challenges.”
Stepping Up When It Mattered Most
One of the defining features of Hannah’s development has been her willingness to step in and support her logistics leader and wider team; often proactively, without being asked.
“I’ve made it a priority to take initiative and anticipate what’s needed,” she says. “Supporting others through change pushed me to grow in confidence and strengthened the trust within our team.”
Lauren saw this shift clearly:
“Her emerging leadership capabilities have had a meaningful impact on her department,” she notes. “Hannah consistently demonstrates accountability, collaboration and professionalism far beyond expectations.”
Hannah acted as a focal point between internal teams and external suppliers across several project‑critical loadouts, managing planning, stakeholder engagement and negotiation with poise and reliability.
Her developing leadership skills didn’t just support others, they helped the department remain stable during a challenging transitional period.
Delivering Measurable Value Through Cost Savings and Efficiency
While Hannah’s growth has been significant on a personal level, the business impact has been equally impressive.
A standout example of this value is the cost savings she delivered on XT vessel shipments through smart consolidation strategies, achieving 32% and 39% reductions on key consignments.
“Seeing how my analysis and decision‑making directly contributed to meaningful savings was a real moment for me,” Hannah says. “It showed just how far I’d come.”
Across the organisation, her contributions have strengthened:
✔ Cost efficiency
Substantial cost reductions through consolidation and improved planning.
✔ Operational resilience
Better continuity, fewer delays and more reliable handovers during periods of change.
✔ Stakeholder confidence
Clear communication and proactive engagement with internal and external partners.
✔ Process integrity and accuracy
Improved attention to detail and stronger ownership of critical logistics activities.
Lauren summarises it clearly:
“Hannah’s ability to translate learning into real‑world performance, whether through enhanced technical knowledge, effective communication or emerging leadership, has had a clear and meaningful impact on her department.”
Achievement and Pride: A Dual Impact
For Hannah, the greatest achievement isn’t just the cost savings or the successful management of complex loadouts, it’s the combination of supporting her team while delivering measurable organisational value.
“One of the things I’m most proud of is how I’ve stepped up to support my logistics leader and the wider team,” she says. “At the same time, delivering tangible results, like the XT shipment savings, showed me how much I’ve progressed.”
This blend of initiative, teamwork and quantifiable improvement is what makes Hannah’s development stand out — and why she was nominated for Instep’s Apprentice of the Year.
A Future Built on Confidence, Skill and Leadership Potential
As her apprenticeship comes to a close, Hannah is equipped with the confidence, capability and professional maturity to continue progressing within Baker Hughes.
“This experience has empowered me,” she says. “I feel ready to take on new challenges and grow in my career.”
For Baker Hughes, the apprenticeship has strengthened not only their logistics function, but their future talent pipeline, with Hannah emerging as a skilled, motivated and increasingly influential team member.
