Six disparate individuals gather in the school library for Saturday detention. Once sat, they are assigned an essay about who they think they are.
Each person is part of a different clique, which could be a recipe for disaster. Yet, their different personalities, interests, and expertise turn out to be the perfect recipe for a dream team.
Does this all sound familiar?
Well, swap out the library for an office space, detention for an email chain, and cliques for departments, and it is a little less The Breakfast Club and instead a light-hearted look at our new intake of talented staff.
Read on to learn about our new arrivals and how their expert knowledge could help benefit your business.
Steve, the ‘Team Player’ and our Customer Account Manager
Steve Pooler joined the Solutions family last summer, slotting into the team instantly.
His expert knowledge and relationship-building skills help to resolve any obstacles and bring everyone onto the same page.
He has an unmatched ability to form long-lasting connections built upon foundations of respect and understanding. In the school of life, you don’t need to worry about Steve landing in detention, as he’s driven, reliable, and a man of his word.
Outside of work, Steve loves to go on bike rides and hikes, followed by a well-earned coffee and cake.
When asked about what brought him to Solutions, he said:
“I started out working for a smaller Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) consultancy. After several years working for larger organisations, I realised I missed the feeling of working in a closer-knit team, as well as the ability to actually get something done. I’d like to thank everyone for their help and for making me feel welcome.”
Fun fact: Steve is undertaking a long-term family research project, which currently goes as far back as the 1700s on the maternal side.
He’s currently looking for a link to a great estate in the hills above Barbados. Good luck!
Joe, the ‘Daydreamer’ and our Copywriter
A self-proclaimed daydreamer, Joe Macbeth, has recently joined our marketing team as our Copywriter. He has 15 years of valuable experience writing in finance, multimedia, hospitality, eCommerce, and retail.
Joe described himself as;
“A geek with a love for fantasy and science fiction, an active gamer, and a supporter of Celtic FC. I’m a daydreamer by nature and writing has always provided me with a creative outlet for my ideas. I love bringing a sense of fun and creativity to marketing copy”.
His expert knowledge has already made a mark on the team. We’re confident that his out-of-the-box thinking will enable us to bring you fresh ideas and engaging content.
Joe freely admits his tendency to daydream and get lost in his own thoughts landed him in a few detentions back in the day. Yet, it is that creative mindset that makes him such a valuable writer for Solutions in the present.
Fun fact: Joe hopes to publish his fantasy and science fiction novels one day!
We know whatever ‘Darth Vader from planet Vulcan travelling through time with heavy metal music’ story he cooks up will be truly out of this world.
Jonathan, the ‘Returning Teacher’ and our Sales Consultant
The Returning Teacher has joined us again at Solutions.
Jonathan Clarke, one of our Sales Consultants, has rejoined us after 10 years. In his own words, here’s why:
“I left Solutions 10 years ago and have now returned!
I chose to come back because I believe it is a very forward-thinking and dynamic business partner to work for. They put an emphasis on career and personal development for their staff and I am looking forward to being part of Solutions’ continued growth”.
We’re excited to have Jonathan back on the team and can’t wait to see how his varied experiences over the last 10 years will contribute to the team’s and your continued success.
Jonathan’s ability to empathise with others enables him to have a deep understanding of customer challenges, delivering solutions that smooth out any bumps along the way.
Fun fact: Jonathan likes to go on dog walks, to the gym, and on as many holidays as possible (don’t we all)!
Imogen, the ‘Bookworm’ and our Marketing Assistant
Our new Marketing Assistant and resident bookworm, Imogen Young, has recently joined us after completing her English and Philosophy degree and marketing work experience. We’re confident that her fresh perspective and enthusiasm will help to contribute to the team’s innovative campaigns.
When she’s not working, she’ll usually be found reading, out on walks or socialising with friends and family.
Imogen discussed her experience so far and her hopes going forward, saying:
“I’m excited to learn new skills and get involved with various aspects of marketing. Everyone at Solutions has been incredibly welcoming so far; I can’t wait to get to know more of the team at future socials and meetings! I was drawn to Solutions because of their support for new ideas and creativity as an ever-growing company”.
Fun fact: Imogen is currently learning how to oil paint. Who knows?
She may be the next Van Gogh (but with hopefully two ears).
David, the ‘Hotshot’ and our Sage Consultant
Our seasoned Sage Consultant and resident jock, David Stokeld, is an absolute Hotshot when it comes to managing projects and finalising deals.
He works with organisations and finance teams to help manage digital transformation projects across several industries. He has been involved in hundreds of accounting migrations and deals with technical processes for all Sage solutions.
When asked about his goals and why he chose Solutions, David said:
“What drew me to Solutions is their position in the marketplace and their long-standing relationship with Sage.
I work closely with each client to understand their specific needs and deliver tailored solutions that drive measurable results.
My goal is to build lasting partnerships and contribute to the long-term success of educational institutions by providing you with the tools you need to thrive in a rapidly changing landscape”.
Fun fact: David plays hockey and badminton in leagues in the north of England.
Jo, the ‘Academic’ and our Accounts Administrator
While she isn’t exactly a new arrival, having been at Solutions for a couple of years, Jo’s contributions to the team as our unrivalled Accounts Administrator cannot be left unspoken. We know if Jo ever landed in our figurative detention, it would be a complete shock, as she’s our ‘Academic’ and a shining example among the team.
She has 22 years of extensive experience across similar roles, making her a wealth of knowledge in the world of finance and logistics.
This is what Jo had to say about working at Solutions:
“Solutions for Accounting is a generous employer that provides a good work-life balance with remote working and a strong employee well-being focus. I thoroughly enjoy working with my team and independently”.
Fun fact: Jo gives Gordon Ramsay a run for his money in the kitchen and loves a bit of music to brighten up her day.
Forget detention, we make work at Solutions as positive as possible
While we love seeing our dream team hard at work, we believe they should have the opportunity to celebrate one another outside of a work setting.
Joanne Barker, our Office Manager, generously takes the time to plan exciting social events, including meals out, bowling, and our anticipated annual summer BBQ.
Our Managing Director, Iain Barker, also goes above and beyond in hosting a surprise weekend away each year for staff members and their partners.
Georgia Foster, our Head of Marketing, shares a snippet of her favourite moment during past weekend’s away with us:
“My favourite memory has to be from my first activity on my very first weekend away with the team. I had no idea what to expect when we were split into groups for a game of frisbee golf, and at the time, I didn’t know many of my colleagues, so I was pretty nervous.
But the moment my partner launched a frisbee miles off course, it was clear that the people at Solutions were exactly my kind of people. Watching him set off on an unexpected hike across the field while the rest of us laughed and joked was brilliant (even if it was at my partner’s expense!). In that moment, I just knew that Solutions really is like one big family (as cliché as that may sound)”.
Don’t you forget about us, get in touch to discover how our team can help
We’re proud to have a supportive, inclusive team with different personalities and areas of expertise.
Our main priority remains providing you with the best services so that you can succeed; expanding our team of specialists enables us to do just that.
We’re continually building on top of the more than 400 years of combined experience provided by our team of over 70 talented individuals, including our core long-serving staff.
Read more: How our magical team has grown and thrived over the years – Solutions for Accounting
We’re incredibly grateful to you for supporting us and allowing us to continue this exciting journey. Our staff are at the heart of what we do and we’re always on the lookout for skilled individuals to join the team. Please visit our careers page to find out more.
Get in touch today to discuss tailored solutions that could financially benefit your business by emailing us at enquiries@solutionscloud.uk or giving us a call at 0115 840 5075.
