Enterprise is a career that keeps me on track
I started at Enterprise exactly five years ago as a Management Trainee in a local Leeds branch. From my first day I loved the fast pace of the business and that every day was different. I was constantly learning something new and soon found a passion for the job and looked up to my managers wanting to be in their position. I passed the branch MQI assessment in 10 months and shortly after got promoted to my first Assistant Manager position.
After my second Assistant Manager position, I was promoted to Branch Manager of the Leeds Yeadon branch which happened within two years of starting, and which I was extremely proud of.
Covid hit a few months after I started my new role, and I moved around a few different branches. I was then appointed Branch Manager of Leeds Bradford Airport, which was a much bigger role and then to Wakefield before my promotion to Area Manager in September 2022.
The Management Trainee role at Enterprise had immediately caught my attention because of the quick career progression and I have experienced this to be true.
"Putting yourself out of your comfort zone can be scary, however this is the best way to progress and grow"
To be a successful Area Manager at Enterprise was my goal when I started. I looked up to Area Managers around me and longed to be in their position.
Five years later and a lot of hard work and here I am. Time has flown so fast. Even now as an Area Manager no two days are the same, and there’s not a day that goes by that I haven’t learnt something new.
The transition was quite smooth as I was promoted out of the Wakefield branch which is now one of my branches. I took the time to meet every employee and get to know my new branches in my first month.
“Even now there’s not a day that goes by that I haven’t learnt something new”
When I first started at Enterprise, I was lucky to have strong, female role models to look up to and I now want to inspire the generations coming through at Enterprise.
I have always been involved with initiatives surrounding diversity in the workplace. In August I applied to be on our regional diversity committee within the gender strand. I have always been passionate about empowering and inspiring other females around me so felt this was a good fit for me.
I now share the responsibility of leading the Women in Leadership and gender strand with another woman area manager, Abby Connolly and we have been busy organising many events for the year ahead.
Most recently we organised a Women in Leadership networking event for level I employees, which included a guest speaker, speed networking event and also two break outs looking at leadership and confidence in the workplace.
I am also involved in the female Branch Managers' programme which is designed to help build their skill set and personal brand. I am very passionate about helping other females to have confidence in their abilities as this is something I struggled with myself.
I also helped to organise Enterprise's presence at this year’s Leeds Pride event with a few other employees, which was a massive success. It brought the community and our surrounding areas together and it was great to represent Enterprise on such a fun day out!
“you can accomplish anything you set your mind to, but you can’t be afraid of hard work”
What drives me is seeing the people that I work with progress. I love managing people, training, and developing my employees and seeing people progress.
I enjoy setting myself goals and get a sense of fulfilment when they are achieved. I believe my success lies in my positive mindset. If there is a glass, it’s always half full. I believe you can accomplish anything you set your mind to, but you can’t be afraid of hard work. Each day is a new day, and it is up to you how you spend those 24 hours. I like to reflect on three things I have achieved when if I’ve had a hard day.
I think is very important to ask for help when you need it. You are not always going to know the answer to everything, especially in a new role, so reaching out to people around you and from different part of the business is so important.
Putting yourself out of your comfort zone can be scary, however this is the best way to progress and grow. My advice to anyone going in to a new role is that you are never ready for that step up, but the best way to learn is to throw yourself in at the deep end and try to keep afloat, with the help of your arm bands (other employees round you).
For me, Enterprise isn’t just a job. It’s a career that’s guided me through the last five years of my working life.
If you are interested in a career with Enterprise, please visit our recruitment website at careers.enterprise.co.uk
