Tom, Business Officer
"Throughout my career, I have fortunately been surrounded by colleagues and managers who have consistently demonstrated support for professional growth. This support has played a crucial role in propelling me rapidly into my current position."
I initially joined the council as an apprentice in Business Administration, working in the Corporate Business Support team. The role provided me with invaluable opportunities to kick-start my career. In just six months, I was offered a full-time position as a Business Support Administrator in the Fostering team, where I successfully completed my apprenticeship. After gaining solid experience in business support, I craved a new and exciting challenge. I then transitioned into the role of Project Support Officer within Adult Social Care. This opportunity allowed me to further enhance my project support skills, eventually leading me to secure a rewarding position as a Project Coordinator a year later. Through this role, I had the privilege of collaborating with diverse teams and professionals at various levels, which not only piqued my interest in engagement work but also facilitated the development of my personal design and IT skills.
As I advanced within my service area, I eagerly transitioned into a role centered around community engagement and user experience. This career move marked a significant milestone by allowing me to take on leadership responsibilities and directly interact with residents accessing social care services. Alongside fostering my design skills and managing websites, I had the opportunity to chair meetings in challenging circumstances and discuss sensitive topics. I dedicated a year and a half to this role and utilised my experiences to apply for a Business Officer position within the Strategy, Improvement, and Governance team.
Currently, I hold the position of Project Manager within our Adult's service, where I am leading a significant project. My primary objective is to identify cost savings within an overspending budget. Additionally, I am responsible for evaluating existing processes and implementing improvements, a task that truly captivates my interest. Furthermore, I am simultaneously spearheading two other projects while actively participating in cabinet member updates and reporting.
Throughout my career, I have fortunately been surrounded by colleagues and managers who have consistently demonstrated support for professional growth. This support has played a crucial role in propelling me rapidly into my current position. Notably, the availability of extensive training opportunities has been consistently remarkable. I have found immense encouragement in the fact that whenever I set a goal, there is a genuine commitment from my superiors to provide support to achieve it.
The council is an exceptional workplace, offering numerous opportunities for personal growth through a variety of avenues such as new positions, training programs, apprenticeships, E-learning, and much more. It serves as an ideal environment to enhance your skills, allowing you to contribute directly to work that significantly impacts the lives of our residents.