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 Villages. 

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 Villages. 

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! 

 

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. 

 

CLAIRE TIMMS – HOUSEKEEPING MANAGER AT AUSTIN HEATH 

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

Useful lessons are learnt every day, so I don't have just one. Every day is a school day.  

Who or what inspires you when you face challenges?  

When faced with a challenge I will do my best to complete it but I know if I need a helping hand I have a great team around me that will be with me all the way.My team are my inspiration. 

 

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 learnt 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 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 lives 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 headfirst and giving her full energy to anything she did. 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 on 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.