Moving from the TV industry to Lifeways
"I couldn't ask to work with a better group of friendly and passionate people," says April Ely, our Resourcing Marketer, who shares with us why she decided to work for Lifeways.
"I am the Resourcing Marketer for Lifeways and sit within the Recruitment Team in HR. I joined Lifeways back in July 2020. I haven't been here long, but I believe I have settled into the organisation and role well. This is thanks to the welcoming and positive attitude of my manager and the rest of the recruitment team. I couldn't ask to work with a better group of friendly and passionate people.
My working background is mainly in TV, film and radio. I have no previous experience in the care sector but had some basic training as a Scout Leader. I started my career working for entertainment and news companies, such as BBC One, BBC Radio, Sky Sports, Sky News, and Sky Atlantic. I have worked with some amazing people from Robbie Williams, to Gary Lineker, Team GB, and Prince William. However, to stay in this industry you need to travel regularly and be away from friends and family (and dogs). It's a sector that requires you to meet and work with a lot of new faces but only for a short period of time.
I decided to move back home to Swindon in 2018 and took on the role of Marketing Executive for Tuffnells, a company that transports parcels across the UK. I loved the job but wanted to work for a company that does something important. This is when I found my current position as a Resourcing Marketer for Lifeways. I am now able to work in a role I love but for an organisation that does something truly rewarding, providing support to adults with complex needs. I even get to work at the same company as my younger brother, who works in our Swindon location!
As Resourcing Marketer, I promote the working life at Lifeways to new and existing colleagues. I want everyone to know about the hard work and support our Lifeways colleagues put into the job every day. I also showcase the benefits of working for Lifeways, such as internal development opportunities, training, the 'Refer a Friend scheme' and other types of events that Lifeways run internally. Most of this content is posted to our social media platforms, the Lifeways website, and internally on our Workplace platform.
I enjoy the freedom and creativity of my role. I can work on new ideas and implement projects that will benefit my team and Lifeways as a whole. My biggest achievement at Lifeways is kickstarting the Online Job Fairs. Each recruiter has now started to run Online Job Fairs for their regions. We hope to develop these into 2021, with added content, features, and multiple speakers."