Meet Jane Gregory Office Manager
Alongside her day to day role and supporting the wellbeing of our people as a mental health first aider, she’s futureproofing the skills of the industry by nurturing, supporting and developing the next generation.
What is your experience / background in?
I started my career in retail at 16 as a Saturday assistant, progressing to store manager by 21. Retail taught me so much, but it took me many years within the office environment to make me realise it. From retail I have worked as an office manager with a facilities company, moving to a hire vehicle company before moving into education with a large further education group. Whilst in FE I embedded legislation change with regards to special educational needs across the group, the first of its kind within the sector.
What drives you?
Excellent support and guidance throughout everything I do. All businesses evolve and with it brings challenges in culture change, processes, and expectation. With that brings no day the same, if I can make a difference to colleagues and clients through my knowledge and support that allows them to achieve their goals, short or long term, then I am happy.
What is involved in your role?
As Office and Facilities Manager, I am privileged to work directly with so many colleagues; my role is varied from working with external contractors, agencies, and stakeholder, to covering reception when required. I also support our apprentices throughout their journey with us providing pastoral and academic guidance.
What do you enjoy most about your role?
Helping my colleagues. If I can answer questions, provide support, or help develop new processes that can benefit them and the business then what could be better!
What challenges have you had to overcome?
On a personal level it is dealing everyday with M.E., but it has taught me that you can achieve when there are times when life throws you a curve ball. That challenge is a constant, as anyone with a daily condition will tell you, especially with having to isolate through COVID (which was a challenge for everyone) but without challenges where would we be?
What has been your proudest moment at Exyte Hargreaves?
There are many proud moments, helping colleagues who need guidance through my role as a Mental Health First Aider, to seeing our young people grow as they progress through their apprentice journey onto the career ladder, to the laughs we have daily with my amazing colleagues; It is too hard to pick one 😊
Can you share with us a fun fact about you?
I have been on TV a couple of times as a child and stood next to Princess Diana in WH Smiths by the record counter in the early 1980’s.
What do you like to do in you spare time?
I love cooking, it is my daily escape. I cook listening to the radio, so that is either me singing along to Radio 2, passing comment on Radio 5 live or my fix of The Archers.
