Giving individuals opportunities to show their full potential at Gemco and improving their lives during the process
Introduction
Kasia, who has been working at Gemco for a while now did not have the right qualifications or the relevant experience in the field of finance, but she was determined to change that!
Life before Gemco
Initially, Kasia had two jobs, she worked as a school kitchen assistant in her son’s school and as a cleaner for a cleaning company, one of the main client’s company was and still is Gemco. Kasia desired to work one full-time job and as her son was growing up, her schedule seemed to free up time, thus giving her the chance to pursue her own interests.
Why finance?
Kasia chose to go into the field of finance due to having a keen interest in the area which started from her time in Poland where she obtained an economics qualification before coming to the UK. Her goal was to pursue her interest, which was to be achieved through hard work and determination.
Actions taken to achieve the goal
With her son’s help, Kasia enrolled in a local college course in Bookkeeping & Accounts. She attended two-hour classes one day a week; whilst continuing to work.
Gemco’s support in further development
During her college studies, Kasia gained help and support from members of staff at Gemco. Gemco employees always asked her about how her studies were going which made Kasia feel very supported.
The career opportunity of a lifetime
Kasia worked as a cleaner for four years and the staff at the Gemco office she had to clean always made her feel welcome, like she was part of the Gemco family. Kasia began looking around for a job at the end of her college course when she was informed about a job opportunity available at Gemco; they were looking to hire a Finance Administrator!
Kasia expressed her interest despite having no experience, but Gemco were happy enough to give her the chance to apply for the position. Kasia went through the recruitment process like all other candidates contending for the same job position.
Part of the process was an interview with James Howarth who is the Finance Control Manager at Gemco. Kasia felt nervous as she has never really taken part in a formal interview before. However, the interview itself was relaxed and she began to feel at ease during the process. The interview was successful and she was selected for the Finance Administrator role. Kasia was so pleased, she couldn’t believe that she was offered the job!
‘’They have given me the chance to take the next step in my life, to make a better life for myself.’’
Building Confidence
From October of last year, Kasia started to work for Gemco as a Financial Administrator.
The first four weeks were a bit of a struggle as everything felt new to Kasia. However, she reassured herself that she knew what she was doing; that she can do this and went to work feeling confident. Furthermore, Gemco staff members gave her reassurance in the fact that she was doing a good job which went a long way in building her confidence.
After some time, Kasia began to gain more confidence. Everyone at Gemco was warm and friendly; like nothing has changed which made her feel comfortable and part of the Gemco team.
Currently, Kasia feels very confident in her role and enjoys coming to work every day.
The future for Kasia
Due to an increase in confidence, Kasia aspires to grow and develop further by taking on more responsibility and to educate herself further in her chosen field.
At Gemco we are a team and we help each other when needed. We encourage all employees and assist with their growth and development within a supportive environment.
Kasia would agree:
‘’I really enjoy working at Gemco and look forward to coming back every day. I am always learning something new which is helping me develop each day. I enjoy a true challenge my role brings me every day.’’
Kasia, Finance Administrator
Kasia’s line manager, James Howarth adds:
“Kasia has been working indirectly at Gemco for a few years, so she already had a basic understanding of what Gemco is all about. When I heard that she was putting herself through night school for an accounting qualification, I was keen to offer support where needed. Given her self-motivation and the fact that she already knew most of the Gemco staff she was the perfect fit. She attended an interview and it was clear that she would be a great addition to the team. Since joining she has continued to gain further knowledge of how Gemco operates and valuable experience within an accounts department, she is now a valued member of Gemco.”
James Howarth, Finance Control Manager
