“So much happens behind the scenes.”
In today’s team spotlight we chat to Project Coordinator Leah Hurt about getting jobs ready to go live, growing in confidence and finding a place you belong…
Hi Leah, what do you do at Trust?
I’m a Project Coordinator for the work we do with MJ Quinn. That means I support the planning, coordination and delivery of the work we do on their contract with BT across the UK.
Can you tell us a bit about your background?
I’ve been at Trust for 11 years now. Before I started I’d done a few different jobs – I’d been a waitress and worked in a call centre, which I didn’t love. Then I was doing some agency work and they sent me here. I liked the idea of being in a friendly office, but to be honest, that’s all I knew about the business. I still remember the interview. I confessed that I’d done a practice run the night before, driving over to the office to check I knew the way. They still joke to this day that that’s what got me the job – they knew I was super organised straightaway!
“Operations is a lively team and I love the environment – I’m happy to be part of it.”
I’ve had a few different roles since I started. Initially I was doing everyday office admin, like filing and scanning. Then I moved to [Trust MD] Liam’s department and did commercial admin for him. After that, I went on maternity leave and when I came back I went into the finance office, then on to operations, where I am now. So I’ve done a bit of everything and learned a lot along the way. Operations is a lively team and I love the environment – I’m happy to be part of it.
What does a typical day look like for you?
I’m often scheduling work, starting and stopping permits and uploading drawings of completed projects, ready to invoice. I’ll also be responding to emails and updating MJ Quinn’s systems to show which jobs are live, which jobs are complete and so on. A lot of planning and prep goes into making sure everything goes right on site.
What might people find surprising about your job?
I think people would be surprised how many different roles there are in utilities. It’s easy to assume it’s just the lads out on site and a couple of admin staff in the background, but so much happens behind the scenes. You’ve got health and safety, planning, permitting, invoicing – there are loads of options to choose from if you want to work in utilities.
I think people would also assume it’s very male dominated, but we’ve got quite a lot of women here and we fit in well. I’d say the company runs better with us on board! It’s definitely an industry that’s open to everyone these days.
What do you love about your job and working at Trust?
I think having been here for 11 years, Trust feels like a safe space for me. I like coming in and it’s a bit of an escape – when I’m here I can be myself and not just a mum. At the moment we’re starting to do some charity fundraising and I feel like that’s bringing us all even closer together, and we’re having some fun with it as well. It does feel like a family.
What would you say to someone thinking of joining the Trust team?
It’s a good place to work. They definitely support you if you want to progress – and if you want to stay where you are, they’re happy with that too. It’s just a really friendly place to work. I’ve worked with Liam for a lot of years and he’s very driven, so I think the future’s looking positive.
What’s been a real highlight in your career?
It’s tough to pick out one highlight, so I’d say the big thing for me is how far I’ve come. Like I said, I didn’t know anything about utilities when I started and now I’m coordinating projects. I’ve learnt an awful lot in the last couple of years, and my confidence has really grown. When I started here, I was so quiet. I literally wouldn’t say boo to a goose, but now I find it much easier to talk to new people. Working in the operations office especially, you’ve got no choice but to come out of your shell a little bit, so I think moving into this role has done me the world of good too.
What are your ambitions for the future?
I want to stay at Trust and see all of the changes that are coming. I like the idea of taking my career a bit further, maybe becoming a supervisor and building on everything I’ve learnt over the last few years. So yes, I’d say my ambition is to stay here and enjoy it.
When you’re not at work, how do you like to spend your time?
I’ve got a three-year-old daughter and I’m not one for staying in the house, so we’re always out and about – at the park, on days out or going on holiday when we can. She loves riding her bike and things like that – she definitely keeps me busy! And when I’m not with her, I like catching up with my friends or, if I’m really treating myself, I love a spa day. A bit of everything really!
If you’ve been inspired by Leah’s story, find out how you can join us here.
