The Greencroft Estate in Annfield Plain is home to Greencroft Bottling and Lanchester Wines – sister businesses within the family-owned The Lanchester Group. Combined, each is amongst the leading businesses in their sector, and combined, they are one of the biggest employers in our area. Consett Magazine has been given exclusive access to meet the people behind the scenes who keep these businesses running.
From spreadsheets to supply chains, Kevin Fernandes is already making his mark at Lanchester Wines, and he’s only just getting started.
Kevin joined the team in October 2024 as a Level 3 Business Administration apprentice. It’s his first office job, and he’s embraced the challenge with a mix of curiosity and confidence. “I’ve learned so much about how a business operates,” he says. “From dealing with customers to understanding professional etiquette, even how to correctly formulate a professional business email.”
Kevin plays an important role in Lanchester Wines’ logistics department customer service team, assisting with the day-to-day operations for several major international retail accounts. He ensures orders are processed smoothly, stock levels are accurate and any queries are resolved quickly. “It’s a fast-moving department,” he explains.
After just a few months of guidance, I started assisting with customer accounts and helping make sure everything runs smoothly.
Kevin’s consistency and reliability have helped him to become a steady presence in the office. As part of his apprenticeship, he’s working on a project to create a cost-effective uplift and return process, analysing the carbon footprint, driver wages, fuel usage and time spent on each trip. “It’s about finding efficiencies that save money and reduce environmental impact,” he says.
Kevin’s journey hasn’t been linear. After leaving St Bede’s school with A-Levels, he went to university to study Accounting and Finance before switching to Maths. “I’ve always been good with numbers,” he says,
but I realised the structure of university wasn’t for me. I prefer learning on the job and getting stuck in.
That hands-on approach has served him well. One of Kevin’s standout skills is his ability to connect with people, something that’s helped him transition from an educational background into a fast-paced commercial environment.
“I enjoy commercial invoicing,” he adds. “Creating spreadsheets with formulas is one of my favourite parts of the role.”
Kevin recently reached out to his former school, St Bede’s, offering to share his career journey and insights into the many paths available to students. With his sister now in sixth form, it’s a meaningful full-circle moment. “It’s important to show that success doesn’t follow a single route,” Kevin says, “university isn’t the only option.” We hope the school takes him up on the offer, it’s a great opportunity to inspire the next generation.
Comfortable, capable and quietly ambitious, Kevin is proof that apprenticeships can unlock real potential, and that sometimes, the best way to learn is by doing.
Lanchester Wines and Greencroft Bottling are growing, and they’re looking for people to join our teams. If you’re enthusiastic, hard-working and seeking a career in which you can progress, visit their websites: www.lanchesterwines.co.uk/careers-at-lanchester-wines/ and www.greencroftbottling.com/recruitment
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Get full story here: https://consettmagazine.com/2025/11/14/meet-the-people-behind-the-pour-kevin-fernandes/
Go on Kev. So proud of you
Congratulations 🎉🎊🎈
💯👏👏👏
Yes Kevin lad
Well done, be proud!