What is your role at the Hub?
I have only been with the Hub for a couple of months as a procurement specialist in the Pharmacy category. I have worked in the NHS as a pharmacy technician for 17 years and worked across multiple sectors, most recently in mental health and community services in a senior role. I hope to bring my wealth of wide-ranging pharmacy experience to enhance the amazing work that the team has been undertaking for many years.
What do you anticipate as being the biggest challenge you’ll face in your role?
Procurement is a fast-moving field and keeping up to date with legislation is always a challenge for all concerned. Times are challenging for the NHS as a whole and getting the best possible outcomes for our Hub members is as important as it has ever been.
For me, getting up to speed with my new role and learning as much as I can, as quickly as possible, is the main challenge I’m facing to delivering this aim. I’m also looking forward to linking in with trusts to build on the relationships that are already formed with the Hub.
What do you find most rewarding about your role, or working in the NHS?
I have always enjoyed being able to make a difference and seeing the impact of my work through innovative ideas. I tend to be someone who thinks about things in a practical way and am able to put myself in the position of others to understand their needs or concerns.
Seeing real outcomes for our members in the work we do is what drives me. Working closely with members to fulfill their needs is sure to be a very gratifying feeling.
What was your first job?
It’s safe to say I didn’t really know what I wanted to be when I left school. I initially trained as a car mechanic for a few years. I’ve always had a thing for anything with an engine – cars, motorbikes, lawnmowers. I have a petrol lawnmower for no other reason than it’s something else to service each year!
I had a variety of jobs before my NHS career: B&Q, HM Customs, BT, Virgin Media as a cable TV installer before finally finding my calling in pharmacy. All these experiences gave me something that I still use today and although very different in their nature, they all relate in some way.
Tell us about your hobbies
Motorsport is something I have always had a passion for, so I watch whatever I can. I attend Santa Pod raceway a couple of times a year and have even driven the quarter mile a couple of times.
I’m a keen guitarist and have attempted (badly) to write a few songs over the years and attend local open mics.
My other big love is football. I still have my season ticket for Liverpool so regularly visit Anfield for games. My next big plan is to convert a van into a camper so that we can go off-gridding round Europe.
What would your dream holiday be?
Six months in a camper, touring wherever the road takes us, sounds like my kind of bliss. A few mountains with plenty of walks, maybe up in Scotland. I always said that if I had a big lottery win that I would spend a year following the F1 calendar around the world. But maybe not in the camper van!