Pollard Consulting Services — Operations Advisory

Operations that
hold up when
you actually
start to scale.

Senior ops expertise for fast-growing businesses — without the full-time hire. From fulfilment and logistics to cold-chain compliance, 3PL onboarding, and carrier strategy.

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15+
Years in ops
4
Industries
UK
Cardiff-based
The operations that got you here probably won't get you there. The question is how long before it breaks.
Numan — Operations, Supply Chain & Logistics — scaling DTC and omnichannel ops including cold-chain pharmaceutical logistics
Getir — Operations, Supply Chain & Logistics — 65 micro-fulfilment sites, 1,300+ staff, 50% reduction in Cost Per Order across the UK network
Multiverse — Operations — operational leadership in a high-growth EdTech scale-up; saved 78,000 admin hours annually through process automation
Deliveroo — Operations & Commercial — launched across Wales and South of England, 20 locations in 12 months
Lidl & Tesco — Operations — large-scale retail, multi-site P&L, 1,300+ workforce
Derek Pollard — Pollard Consulting Services
About

A practitioner,
not a theorist.

I'm Derek Pollard — an Operations Leader with more than 15 years of experience building and fixing operations across retail, platform logistics, and regulated healthcare. Every recommendation I make comes from having actually done the work, not a frameworks deck.

My background spans Tesco and Lidl (large-scale retail, multi-site P&L), Deliveroo (rapid market expansion), Getir (quick commerce at scale — 65 sites, 50% CPO reduction), Multiverse (EdTech scale-up operations), and Numan (DTC health brand with cold-chain pharmaceutical fulfilment). That breadth across sectors is unusual, and it's where I add the most value.

I work with founders and ops teams who know something needs to change but don't have the time — or the right frame of reference — to fix it themselves.

I consult alongside my current operational role — which means every recommendation comes from someone actively solving these problems right now, not in theory. I take on a small number of engagements at any one time, so when we work together, you get my full attention.

Operations, Supply Chain & Logistics — Numan
Consumer Health & DTC · 2025–present
Operations — Multiverse
EdTech · 2024–2025
Operations, Supply Chain & Logistics — Getir
Quick Commerce · 2021–2023
Operations & Commercial — Deliveroo
Platform Logistics · 2018–2020
Operations — Tesco & Lidl
Retail · 2008–2018
Services

A handful of
what's on
offer.

Whether you need a quick review, a major project, or an ongoing arrangement, there's almost certainly something that fits. Get in touch to find out.

01
Operational Efficiency Audit
End-to-end review of your operations — fulfilment, carriers, unit economics, team structure, packaging, and supplier relationships. One day on-site, a written report with prioritised findings, and a 90-day roadmap.
02
Carrier Strategy Review
Cost benchmarking against market rates, SLA performance analysis by carrier and zone, and a diversification strategy for businesses over-reliant on a single carrier. Commercial negotiation support included.
03
Packaging & Cost Review
Assessment of packaging spec from a cost, sustainability, and customer experience perspective. Cold-chain packaging a specialism. Often finds immediate savings that are hiding in plain sight.
04
3PL Selection & Onboarding
Full process from scoping and RFP through provider shortlisting, commercial negotiation, and managed onboarding to go-live. For businesses outgrowing their current setup or moving to a 3PL for the first time.
05
New Market Entry — Operational Planning
For businesses expanding into new UK regions or launching in the UK from overseas. Covers operational readiness, carrier network coverage, 3PL options, and regulatory considerations.
06
Operations Workshop / Team Training Day
Half or full-day session with your ops team: frameworks, problem-solving, process design. Highly practical, tailored to your specific context. Works well as a standalone or as a follow-on to an audit.
Don't see exactly what you're looking for? Get in touch. Every engagement is tailored to your specific situation — if you have an operational challenge, there's a good chance I can help with it.
See what's possible
Who this is for

You're probably a fit if…

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You're a scale-up with physical operations
DTC, omnichannel, marketplace, or a brand launching into new channels — and the ops is straining under growth.
→
You ship complex or regulated products
Temperature-sensitive goods, pharmaceuticals, or anything where getting logistics wrong has consequences beyond a delivery complaint.
→
You're changing or choosing a 3PL
It's a bigger decision than most founders realise. Getting it wrong is expensive and disruptive. Getting it right takes experience.
→
You need senior ops thinking, not a contractor
You want someone who'll tell you what's actually wrong and how to fix it — not just execute tasks and invoice hours.
Industries worked across
How it works

Simple.
Practical.
No nonsense.

1
30-minute discovery call
Tell me where things stand and what you need to solve. No charge, no commitment. I'll tell you honestly whether I think I can help and roughly how.
2
Scoping and fixed-fee proposal
I'll put a clear scope of work in writing — what I'll do, what you'll get, a fixed price, and a timeline. No day-rate surprises. You know what you're paying before anything starts.
3
The work
50% upfront, 50% on delivery. You're never left wondering what's happening — I keep you informed throughout. Slack access is included on all engagements.
4
Delivery and handover
Every engagement ends with a clear deliverable — a report, a roadmap, a recommendation, or a go-live. I'll walk you through it and make sure you can act on it without me in the room.
Get in touch

Something in your ops keeping you up at night?

Let's talk. Thirty minutes, no hard sell. If I think I can help, I'll tell you how. If I can't, I'll tell you that too.

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derek@pollardconsulting.co.uk  ·  Book time in my calendar  ·  Cardiff, Wales