In today’s spotlight we chat to Finance Manager Claire Shipstone about finding a business that believed in her, being part of a brilliant team and why there’s more to finance than just the figures…
Hi Claire, what do you do at Trust?
I’m the finance manager, but I’m actually involved in a lot more than just finance. I also look after IT, help HR with onboarding and work with our MD Liam on the commercial sales side of things. One minute I might be troubleshooting an IT issue, the next I might be going with a new starter to their induction, or setting up costings for a new contract. I get involved in a bit of everything!
Can you tell us a bit about your background?
I’ve been at Trust for nearly five years now. To be honest, I applied for the job because it was really close to home. I’d been working on the other side of Nottingham doing very, very long days, with a lot of travel and three kids at home, and it was all pretty difficult. I was also studying for my ATT (Association of Taxation Technicians) qualification, so I wanted a role with more of an all-round accounts focus that would put my new skills to work. That’s when I came across Trust.
My interview didn’t get off to the best start – I got stuck outside the wrong gate and couldn’t get in! But once I got over that little hurdle it went brilliantly and everyone was lovely. There was just a really warm feeling about the company and I guess they saw something in me.
I’ve worked in accounts for 20-odd years and always tried to develop myself. But until I got to Trust, nobody ever really took a chance on me. I’d had my family quite young and I was starting to feel like, right, I want a career now. David, our former Financial Director, interviewed me and asked where I’d like to be in five or 10 years’ time, so I said I’d love to be a finance manager. And right from that moment, he handed me my contract with finance manager written on it and said, you can 110% do this, I have no doubt in you whatsoever.
I’ve felt supported at Trust ever since. They’re right behind me, encouraging me, but never putting me under pressure. It’s just lovely. We’re all there for every single one of us. My car broke down last year on the way to Scotland and these guys couldn’t do enough for me – picking up my car, taking it to the garage and getting it fixed. Phil Lawson, our Finance Director even borrowed a van, gave his wife his car and lent me her car so I could still get about! Honestly, they were absolutely brilliant.
What does a typical day look like for you?
Typically, I’m raising invoices, making sure things are paid on time and doing weekly costing reports. I take all the information from our sales, payroll and plant and transport teams, then I add in all the costs we incur each week to create a snapshot report for our directors. It shows how well each project’s doing, how much money’s come in, how much we’ve spent and what our profit is. I also help our Framework Manager, Alistair Winch with the bill of quants for the council, which shows all the jobs we’re doing for them, and how much we’re owed on each.
What do you love about your job and working at Trust?
I like the variety and I love that I’m always busy. I’ve got a great team too. I manage Sheila Bowdler and Danielle Sisson, who do purchase ledger and payroll, and my son Lewis is actually on my team too now. He did his work experience at Trust, then came back to do some work after his A levels. Now he’s doing a day a week alongside studying finance and accounting at uni, which is lovely. And our FD Phil is literally the best boss ever. In fact, he’s more like a big brother.
The team all work so hard. We laugh together, we cry together, we have a little moan together. What I get back from them makes it all worthwhile and I know they feel supported by me as much as I do by them. We’ve always got each other’s backs and that what makes it such a lovely place to work. When you’ve got good people, you’ve got a good business and everybody here is a prime example of that.
What would you say to someone thinking of joining the Trust team?
Don’t drive a black car to work – it’ll get really, really dirty! But seriously, the people here are amazing and so supportive. And we’re going places. I’ve seen the company change massively. Liam’s been our MD and owner now for a couple of years, and he’s brought in Dan Bailey our SHEQ and Project Director, Wayne Martin our Drainage Director and quite a few other people – and I can see good things happening for us. With the team we’ve got, we’re going to go really, really far.
“I can see good things happening for us. With the team we’ve got, we’re going to go really, really far.”
What’s been a real highlight in your career?
A little while ago we were looking for some new IT software. We wanted to update what we use for time management – for the team clocking on and off. In some of my previous jobs, I’ve looked into new software, taken what I’ve found to the boss and they’ve used it to make a decision.
But this time, at Trust, it went a bit differently. Phil let me crack on and manage the whole project myself, making decisions and rolling it all out. It was great to get that level of trust and confidence, and to know my opinion is valued, so that felt really nice.
What are your ambitions for the future?
I want to finish my ATT exams. I’m determined to do it, but it’s difficult when you’re a mum of three and really heavily involved in the kids’ football and dancing and everything else. It’s hard to find quiet time to just sit and get your head down. And then from there, well, I wouldn’t say I want Phil’s job, but I definitely want to stay in finance. I think at this stage of my life, I’m quite happy with what I’ve achieved, but I would like my letters. It’s a personal thing, but it’s important to me.
When you’re not at work, how do you like to spend your time?
I’m not the kind of person who likes to switch off. I’ve got to be doing something, whether it’s helping with the kids’ football or dancing. I used to teach dance years ago, ballet, tap and freestyle, but now I just help my daughter with her dance competitions. I miss it, but helping her means I can still be part of it. Daisy in our plant and transport team actually teaches an adult tap class and I’m very, very close to signing up!
I also coach the boys under 11s Ironmasters team at Stanton Ilkeston football club. It’s really rewarding being part of the club and the boys I coach are amazing. With my finance background I also do admin for the team and help the club find grant funding. I asked Liam if he’d help us out with sponsorship for our Pups team, which is for children with special educational needs, and he was more than happy to step up, which has been brilliant.
I keep pretty busy, but I do love a good family Sunday dinner, all of us round the table. I love putting it all together and I love the fact that my kids get involved as well. We all have a part of it that we make. So yeah, if I’ve got spare time, I want to spend it with family and friends, 100%.
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