After college, I was looking for my first job and the range of development opportunities at Hastings Direct really stood out. It’s a great place to work because there’s such variety and diversity in the job roles here. I started in the sales department, where I worked my way up into a senior role, before moving into Finance. I’ve always been given extra responsibilities and had various development opportunities available to me, as well as support for my accountancy studies. That’s really useful for gaining new experience and skills.

From my first interview, I could tell this was a business trying to grow and to change and that I’d be allowed to get stuck in and make a difference. I found that exciting. Our people approach things with a positive, can-do attitude. The buzz, energy, drive and agility that are intrinsic to our ways of working make a massive difference to me. Finance can be really engaging or really dull. Hastings makes every day new and interesting, which means I love coming to work. And, after working here for six years, I still know I can make a difference.

I joined Hastings Direct in 1999 and over the years, I’ve seen the culture develop into a friendly and co-operating environment, which makes it a great atmosphere. We’re not the stereotypical dull finance department - we’re a lively and collaborative team where everyone’s always happy to help, including senior management. I value this sociable environment, because it makes work far more pleasurable. There are many development opportunities here. I’ve always felt empowered and encouraged to put forward my own ideas and to shape my own role and team. I personally have moved into a managerial role and I’ve seen many colleagues develop and progress.

I started on the Finance Graduate Scheme, which included rotations around the department and exposure to each team. Now, as the company grows, I have a large amount of variety in my role and a great deal of involvement in company projects, which keeps me engaged. The culture makes Hastings Direct a great place to work; it’s not too formal and has a relaxed atmosphere. A lot of the teams at Bexhill-on-Sea are integrated at all levels, which helps with effective communication. I also really enjoy the location on the south coast with sea views from our building.