I first joined the Trust in September 2013. Back then, I started as a project manager in the Information Management & Technology (IM&T) department. In January 2015, I moved into the Transforming Cancer Care team, and since 2017, I’ve been part of PropCare - a wholly owned subsidiary of CCC that manages the Trust’s Estates and Facilities services - from its very beginning, where I am now Change Manager.
When I first left university, I didn’t really know what I wanted to do. I’ve kind of fallen into this role but I love it. I studied e-business communications at Liverpool John Moores University, so my degree isn’t directly related to my role, but the skills I gained have definitely helped along the way.
Before joining the Trust, I worked for a company in the private sector. It was my first job after university, where I was a project co-ordinator managing contracts for the Ministry of Defence and Rolls Royce. I learnt a lot in that role and still have close friends from those days. But felt like I needed a change after a while, as the contracts in the company just ran from year to year and there never seemed to be an end point. Whereas I love crossing things off my to do list, so being a project manager is much better for that. Do the job and hand it over. Job done.
So when the Transforming Cancer Care role came up at Clatterbridge, I knew I had to be involved. Cancer is a cause that’s close to everyone’s heart. When I saw the job at Clatterbridge advertised, I jumped at the chance to be part of something that helps so many people.
The highlight of my time at CCC has to be seeing the first inpatient brought into CCC-Liverpool when it opened in June 2020. It was a strange time, right in the middle of Covid, but after being involved in the project for five and a half years, seeing it finally come to life was so rewarding.
Being part of building a world-class cancer centre in the middle of my own city is something I’m incredibly proud of. I could talk about it all week! I love that I’m still part of the team taking care of that building and helping to make improvements.
I also love the number of women in senior roles here. Even since I started in 2013, there have always been a lot of women involved in the Trust, and I think that’s a great example for other sectors.
I’ve always felt supported - not just by my immediate team, but also by members of the executive team, both past and present. That support has made a real difference to me.
The best piece of career advice I’ve received - and what I’d pass on to others - is this: every single person you meet at work is a human being too. Don’t treat anyone differently than you’d like to be treated yourself, no matter where they are in the hierarchy. Don’t be intimidated, don’t intimidate others, and just do the best job you can.
