Inspired Villages is committed to supporting diversity in the workplace and we’re really proud of the inspirational women across our business. As part of our International Women’s Day celebrations, we wanted to introduce some of our amazing female workforce…

JESSICA BENNETT – VILLAGE MANAGER AT GIFFORD LEA

Describe your role at Inspired

My role as Village Manager involves the day-to-day running of the village including the team, (currently) 83 residents, and the management of the properties. I oversee all departments to ensure that our residents receive the highest customer service and thoroughly enjoy living at Gifford Lea.

What’s the most useful lesson you’ve learned in the workplace?

Open and honest communication and transparency work best in the workplace.

Who or what inspires you when you face challenges?

My granny. She was great because she managed to live with an international sportsman, who was also a doctor. Despite this, she kept everything going including looking after 3 kids and a farm!

RACHEL TOTTLE – VILLAGE MANAGER AT MILLBROOK VILLAGE

What’s the most useful lesson you’ve learned in the workplace?

The power of teamwork. Identifying individual’s strengths and building a team that complement each other, not only increases productivity but it creates friendships and boosts morale. Did you know that teams are ten times more likely to stay in a job when they have a good friendship group at work.

Who or what inspires you when you face challenges?

I have a couple of motivational songs I listen to that refocus me. I then put things into perspective and remind myself that my work challenge is nothing is comparison to the challenges other people face everyday, i.e. poverty, illness, grief.

I am also inspired by the thrill of success that follows the hardship of a challenge. Ultimately the bigger the challenge, the more satisfaction/adrenaline rush you get when it is resolved.

ALISON HARRISON – VILLAGE MANAGER AT AUSTIN HEATH

Describe your role at Inspired

Varied! One minute driving customer service and sales, the next, building challenges, looking after health and safety, and developing people which is very rewarding.

What’s the most useful lesson you’ve learned in the workplace?

Take a step back – don’t make snap judgements. An ex-colleague of mine would often put down a piece of correspondence in front of me (I’m going back to the days when post was popular!), with a cup of tea and say “I think you should reply tomorrow” – she knew what would tick my boxes!

Who or what inspires you when you face challenges?

Too many people to pick one out!

JESS KING – HEAD OF HOUSEKEEPING AT MILLBROOK VILLAGE

Describe your role at Inspired Villages

I head a housekeeping department, It’s fast passed with new daily challenges. the role consist of large amounts of practical work as well as admin work, however each task presented to me daily leaves me positively motivated to do the best for the team, village and company. Housekeeping is the largest team in our village therefore bringing a variety of different personalities, this means changing and adapting to get the best out of each person daily, the largest team also comes with the largest challenges but rewarding to turn any situation around. The flexibility of my hours means I have a fantastic family life as well, which was ultimately my motivation for a job change just over 2 years ago.

What’s the most useful lesson you’ve learned in the workplace?

• I’ve learned a few, including:
• Positivity reflects positivity – this reflects in every aspect of life
• You’re only as strong as your weakest link – to get this right makes a stronger team
• You can learn something from anyone – even the unsuspecting!
• Money doesn’t buy happiness (I’ve had different job roles but they didn’t make my family life happy!)

Who or what inspires you when you face challenges?

My mum has and always will inspired me as she’s bought up a whole family as well as run a business, so she’s been successful. Jacinda Ardern (New Zealand’s Prime Minter) has definitely been inspirational this past year for many reasons, I mean she’s an amazingly strong and determined woman and a loving mother! But that said more than anything when I face a challenge, I tell myself others face daily challenges far bigger than anything I’m facing today, I’m merely climbing a mole hill and someone somewhere is having to climb a mountain! So for me the inspiration are those people with life battles/challenges but yet they still face each day, and there’s so many of those people.

RACHEL ROBERTS – OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR AT BRAMSHOTT PLACE

Describe your role at Inspired Villages

My role is admin in the morning and receptionist in the afternoon. I have worked at Bramshott since 2014.

What’s the most useful lesson you’ve learned in the workplace?

Be kind, honest and thoughtful, enjoy what you do and don’t forget to have some fun in your day.

Who or what inspires you when you face challenges?

I always think of my children, I am so proud of them. It helps me to stay strong, focused and resilient so I can be around to support, watch them enter adulthood and the different challenges that await them.

AMY GOOD – FOOD & BEVERAGE MANAGER AT GREAT ALNE PARK

Describe your role at Inspired Villages

I am the Food & Beverage Manager at Great Alne Park. My role is to manage and develop the restaurant and help support my team.

What’s the most useful lesson you’ve learned in the workplace?

The most useful lesson I have learned in the workplace is the power of listening. I work with a wonderful team who are always supporting each other by sharing their knowledge and experiences. Everyone has something for you to learn from if you listen.

Who or what inspires you when you face challenges?

When I face challenges, I’m always inspired by my colleagues in Great Alne park and the greater Inspired teams. We have a great goal that we’re working towards to deliver our resident the ‘best years of their life‘. This along with our values continuously inspire me by reminding me why we’re doing this great work.

ANGIE MOORE – NIGHT PORTER AT GIFFORD LEA

Describe your role at Inspired Villages

The role I play at Inspired, is not only doing my routine jobs but taking on tasks that I feel need doing as a night porter. I just love and feel so privileged to be there for any of the residents who need/want me, whether it to be of assistance, or just to be there to talk.

What’s the most useful lesson you’ve learned in the workplace?

The most useful lesson that I have learned in the workplace, not necessarily just at Inspired, but in life in general, is that not every day can be the best day, but if you keep smiling, think positive thoughts, no matter how hard your day can be, you will get through it and succeed. It can be just another way to grow in both your career and life in general.

Who or what inspires you when you face challenges?

‘Life’ inspires me to face challenges. With the previous challenges I have been through, and the challenges that other people are facing. There is always somebody going through the same and always somebody going through worse. My challenges have made me the person who I am today.

DARCEY NOLAN – MARKETING MANAGER

Describe your role at Inspired Villages

My role at Inspired isn’t what it says on the tin. Although I work in marketing I have had the benefit of getting involved in different departments across the business; no 2 of my days have been the same in the 5 years I have worked here. The world at the moment is a very data hungry place and fortunately for me that fits my personality as I believe that data should lead the way. In my marketing role at Inspired, I don’t just work on the creative side but I also work on the analysis side which goes hand-in-hand with our company ambition to be the best provider of retirement villages. My favourite part of my role at Inspired is that I get to spend time with the residents, really get to know them and understand them, which helps to make a real difference to their life and their families too. I work in a marketing team who are all incredibly talented and hard working so that makes my work life more collaborative and enjoyable.

What’s the most useful lesson you’ve learned in the workplace?

I don’t think I would be able to say just one as I started here as a graduate and I have been lucky enough to grow with the company. But if I had to narrow it down, I would say “if you do something with courage even if it fails, there is always positive growth to take away from a situation”.

Who or what inspires you when you face challenges?

In a business sense I would say Indra Nooyi inspires me when facing challenges, as she was known for being brutally honest, diving in head first and giving her full energy to anything she done. I take that on board with Inspired as we are in a very exciting position; we need an honest, energetic and courageous team and if you have that opportunity why not be that person. In a personal sense, June Carter Cash inspires me, she never gave up on people when it was so difficult, even if it meant putting her own dreams on hold, and also she was stubborn as hell! For the right reasons of course, timing is everything.

TATIANA SMITH – GROUP FINANCIAL CONTROLLER

Describe your role at Inspired Villages

I’m Group Financial Controller overseeing financial processes in Development, Sales & Marketing, and Operations. This includes management and statutory reporting, forecasting and budgeting, financial modelling and evaluations.

What’s the most useful lesson you’ve learned in the workplace?

The most useful lesson I’ve learnt at work is that all people are different and have a right to be different. Understanding others’ motivation, thought process and work style leads to a greater outcome. Success comes not to those who fight to prove their rightfulness, but to those who listen, collaborate and influence.

Who or what inspires you when you face challenges?

I’d say Joanne Rowling. It is totally admirable how she managed to overcome the difficulties of single parenthood, unemployment and clinical depression, and stayed strong and focused on writing. She is an amazing talent and now utilises her publicity to promote charities and give back to society through philanthropic work.

I also really like this quote by Madeleine Albright: “There is a special place in hell for women who don’t help other women.”

FAB MARCARIAN – DIRECTOR OF SALES

Describe your role at Inspired Villages

I look after sales, and support with the marketing and interior design aspects too. I see my job as being the person who inspires the team to be the best they can be at their jobs, but providing a harmonious work environment and making sure my team have job satisfaction. As well as being the right thing to do, creating a positive work environment ultimately helps Inspired Villages succeed.

What’s the most useful lesson you’ve learned in the workplace?

One of the key lessons I have learnt is to be true to myself. There are always barriers people have to deal with; these barriers should never be used as excuses, though. If you try hard enough you can change things and be a force for the good, but only if you stay true to yourself.

Another lesson learned is that the one thing successful people often forget is the part luck plays in our lives. If you’re lucky enough to join an organisation that appreciates you, be smart enough to acknowledge that luck.

Who or what inspires you when you face challenges?

Historically there has been an under-representation of women in key management roles within organisations. Women have had to look wider within society to find inspirational role models, and often women who have succeeded in businesses have been accused of taking on male traits. However, with the current Covid-19 pandemic, we have seen a shift in emphasis on ‘softer’ traits. Kindness, caring, empathy and social responsibility have and will play a huge role in seeing us through these challenging times.

I am inspired by all the women that are working at the front line and dealing so well with the pandemic. Also, seeing how my daughters have been coping and dealing with the pandemic keeps me going and encourages me to never give up.

PLOY RADFORD – COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER

Describe your role at Inspired Villages

I look after external and internal communications for Inspired Villages, working with all departments across the business to make sure our messaging as a company is joined up. I love the variety of the role and the friendly, family feel of the company.

What’s the most useful lesson you’ve learned in the workplace?

That communicating with empathy and honesty goes a long way when building relationships and trying to influence people.

Who or what inspires you when you face challenges?

I admire Michelle Obama immensely. She’s clearly incredibly intelligent and compassionate, was a successful lawyer, took being not only First Lady of the USA but the first African American First Lady, in her stride, and uses the global platform granted by her husband’s role to really make a meaningful difference to people’s lives. I found her memoir Becoming so inspirational.

LIZZIE ANTILL – PROGRAMME MANAGER, CONSTRUCTION

Describe your role at Inspired Villages

The Programme Management Office sits within Construction and is the hub for governance, best practice, standardisation, and communication for delivery of our villages. Essentially, we try to ensure our villages are designed and built in accordance with the company’s policies and procedures. This might mean commissioning and rolling out a standard design template for our village centres (something my colleagues are busy with at present), liaising with the rest of the organisation to agree what constitutes a successful project and then measuring the projects against that criteria, or creating templates for day-to-day activities so the team operates consistently across different projects. It is an incredibly important role supporting the business’s core objectives and aiming to continually improve and support innovation.

What’s the most useful lesson you’ve learned in the workplace?

To try and control emotions and respond objectively. This is an ongoing challenge for me, as I tend to act intuitively, and I definitely embody our value of ‘straightforward and straight-talking’! But I’ve learned not everyone communicates in the same way and it’s important that everyone feels a sense of ownership and power over the conversation in order to reach a successful outcome.

Who or what inspires you when you face challenges?

I try to practice gratefulness on a daily basis; helping me realise that whatever I’m facing is not insurmountable and is a problem some people would love to have! I’m a problem solver at work and in my personal life and treat everything as a puzzle which has an answer. It’s just a case of changing my perspective and learning more about the challenge to identify how to overcome it.

SONIA PAROL – DESIGN DIRECTOR

Describe your role at Inspired Villages

As Design Director, I manage and develop design standards for our retirement villages. We have a few exciting new villages that I am working on. We are developing details for our recently permitted schemes, as well as looking at new sites. In my role I focus on creating sustainable inclusive communities, that enhances peoples later stages of life and give them purpose and a feel of belonging.

What’s the most useful lesson you’ve learned in the workplace?

Since I joined Inspired Villages, I realised how much the company focuses on their residents and their staff on site. It is very refreshing to see that everything we do; we do for our residents. People in the office and in our villages know residents by their names, they know their life stories and respond to their personal requests. I no longer see villages only as buildings, but I see them as places where our residents live.

Who or what inspires you when you face challenges?

There are many women in the sector who motivate and inspire me on daily basis. It’s great that I have the opportunity to meet successful women in search for inspiration and support in becoming my best self.

Tracey Hartley from the Howard de Walden estate and Amanda Nurse from Carterwood continuously inspire me and give me more self-confidence and pride in myself and in what I do. I turn toward them for guidance, inside knowledge and leadership tips relevant to everyone, regardless of gender.

JACKIE USHER – OPERATIONS DIRECTOR

Describe your role at Inspired Villages

My role as Operations Director at Inspired is to support our village managers, our teams and residents at all six operating villages. My goal is to build and retain engaged and passionate teams who deliver service excellence to everyone living at the villages, and this is achieved alongside operational excellence in services, facilities and the overall wellbeing of residents.

What’s the most useful lesson you’ve learned in the workplace?

The most useful lessons I’ve learned in the workplace are to paint a picture of the future, share it and take people on the journey with you. Be authentic in your actions, listen and remember that you’re learning every day, no matter how many years you’ve been doing this!

Who or what inspires you when you face challenges?

When I face challenges, I am inspired by two things; photos or videos of my two grand-daughters, who remind me what’s important in life, and secondly, by my competitive nature, which I can’t tame and which drives me on, every day.