Name: Alice Rowe
Role at Ben’s Gutters: Qualifications Division Head
- What has your career path been?
Before starting at Ben’s Gutters I was a Stage Manager. I spent 5 years touring across the UK with my role. Due to the pandemic this all came to a stop and I found this opportunity at Ben’s Gutters, which utilises my skills within a more corporate setting.
- Why Ben’s Gutters?
Even without the pandemic I felt ready for a career change. Being a stage manager was not providing me with a good work-life balance. Sometimes I worked a 70hr week driving across the country, at all hours.
I missed lots of social occasions with my family and friends. On top of this, my fiancé and I were looking to buy a house with our dog and so wanted to be able to enjoy this together.
- What is your current role like? What about it makes you want to get up in the morning?
My role provides different tasks and goals to achieve every day which keeps me focused throughout the week. I get to interact with all the members of staff in our business and I enjoy developing a great rapport with them. A business is only as strong as its team and we are very lucky at Ben’s Gutters to have a great team of people working with us.
- What does an average week look like for you?
I am involved in daily management meetings, and weekly executive meetings as well as liaising with the managers from other branches in the UK, Scotland and now more recently our growth in America.
I work with the different teams in the business each day, looking at team member roles and if they meet the company standards. I love to support team members who are struggling with sections of their roles, and help put in place retraining and management support. I also have to do all the paperwork creating and updating job packs for all our staff which is currently at xxx?.
- What are your career aspirations?
I look to progress up the levels in the company as we grow the business, seeing the company develop and expand to new areas is really exciting.
- Do you feel like you’re making a difference in your job?
Yes, I do! I feel it is very important to feel valued in every role that you are in. My role helps the business to keep running smoothly, and keep our values and practices in place as the business evolves.
- Are there any expectations you had about this career path that you have found differed from reality, in both a good or bad way?
Ben’s Gutters is a company where if you work hard, you can move into more senior roles quickly. I started as a Business Support Assistant when I joined, and now after 2 years, I run one of the divisions of the company.
- What are the biggest challenges? What are the compromises?
This is an office-based job but the company is very flexible to help with outside commitments for the correct candidates. The parking is currently problematic at times but the company is resolving this soon, as we are moving to a newly built office with a gym in the Autumn of 2022.
- What skills are the most crucial to succeeding in this career? What type of person do you need to be?
Confidence, enthusiasm and a willingness to learn. If you show that you want to progress and work hard at Ben’s Gutters you will go far.
- What is the best bit of advice you have for someone looking to interview with Ben’s Gutters?
Honesty about your strengths and weaknesses, and feel comfortable to ask lots of questions.
