Q: What motivated you to join our company, and what excites you most about your new role?
I was immediately drawn to the strength of Ayup’s values. When I learned that Steve and Mike had shifted their focus in the past to concentrate wholly on working on projects that contribute something positive to society, I knew that this was a company I would really enjoy being a part of.
Q: Can you share a bit about your professional background and the journey that led you to this point in your career?
I’ve worked in marketing roles for around 14 years, but in different capacities and sectors. I made a sideways step into copywriting early in my career, moving from the Arts sector into Insurance which was quite a change! Marketing has always given me the opportunity to be creative which is important to me, but in recent years within a Marketing Manager role I’ve really enjoyed the more strategic aspects as well as digging into data.
Q: What are your initial impressions of the company culture, and how do you envision contributing to it?
What’s immediately apparent with Ayup is their authenticity. Steve and Mike are really passionate about what they do, and have a brilliant relationship with clients. This really sets the company apart and is important when working with organisations which prioritise people’s wellbeing.
Q: What specific skills or experiences do you bring to your new role that you think will be valuable for the team?
Working on your own in a marketing team, it’s been important to find useful tools to help support your work day to day. I’ve built up quite a roster of useful softwares, and being from Yorkshire I refuse to shell out for anything unless it’s worth every penny!
But otherwise I think being a copywriter in the past, I had to turn sometimes quite complicated information into something easy to understand, which has helped me get to grips with a new sector quickly.
Q: In your first few days here, what has stood out to you about our team or workplace that you find unique or interesting?
What stood out to me is the way Ayup works and the emphasis the company places on collaboration and co-creation. I’ve spoken to clients who have said that this was really important to them and what stood out when beginning their deployment with Ayup.
It’s easy to get swept away by what technology can do, but if you’re working with teams who are trying to connect communities with services, that human centred approach is vital.
Q: Are there any specific projects or goals you're particularly eager to tackle in your new position?
We’re looking at how we can work more closely with our existing clients and tap into their experience in working in a Local Authority or Voluntary sector environment. Our client base are very much the type of organisations who would be keen to share best practices and ideas with others as everyone stands to benefit from this kind of collaboration.
I saw a glimpse of this when I went to meet clients at our Community meet up in Sutton a couple of weeks after starting. I’m really looking forward to working more with clients and seeing how we can best facilitate this collaboration.
Q: How do you see your role evolving or growing in the future, and what steps do you plan to take to develop professionally?
I think I’ve got enough to be cracking on with in a marketing capacity at the moment, but perhaps I’d like to develop my audio-visual skills to create engaging, polished content. I have experience with filming, editing and recording basic podcasts and audio bulletins, but there’s a lot of room for improvement!
Q: Outside of work, what are some hobbies or interests that you're passionate about, and how do you balance them with your professional life?
Photography, wild-swimming and writing. I love anything creative or that gets me outside and enjoying nature and wildlife. I’ve been told that despite not owning a pair of binoculars, I still fall under the “twitcher” category!
