How long have you been working for the Kelly Group?
I started my journey with Kelly Rail almost 19 years ago.
What positions have you held throughout your tenure?
I joined the business as a Project Co-ordinator and was promoted to Project Office Manager in 2008.
I came in as a temp for 2 weeks and I am still here.
What does a typical week look like?
My Kelly Rail team are based in Brimsdown, Glasgow & Wembley so we communicate a lot over emails and Teams, this is now second nature to us since COVID.
I am also mental health first aider in our Wembley office. The first thing we were told during the course was that we all have mental health - sometimes it’s good, sometimes it’s not so good. I am a mental health advocate. I believe this is something we all should accept. If someone is going through a tough time, it is beneficial to talk about it. If you ever feel overwhelmed and need help dealing with something, please get in touch with me. Over the years, we have had various walking challenges where we encouraged people to team up and go for a walk in the fresh air. Taking a break and socialising with your colleagues is beneficial for your mental health.
Fun fact: I don’t drink coffee so; this is why you are having Barry’s Tea with me.’
What do you enjoy most about your job?
The variety of tasks involved in my role makes it very enjoyable. Every new contract is interesting as Kelly Rail has diversified a lot over the years. Being involved with many contracts throughout my tenure gave me the opportunity to gain in-depth knowledge about the rail industry.
Do you have any set goals in mind for the next 12 months?
Not a goal as such, but I started going to a boxing trainer in January and it is great fun and a fantastic stress reliever.
In my spare time, I like to get involved with fundraising for different charities and it is something that I would like to focus on this year, it’s important to us as a family.
I enjoy volunteering at Tara Youth GAA Club where my daughters have played football since they were little, it’s a great community of people who happily volunteer their time year in, year out, and kids make great friendships for life.
Currently, I am helping my husband organise a fight night for St Kiernan’s GAA Club with Mannion Boxing on 22nd April, we are raising funds for a clubhouse which will benefit the club and the wider community, we will have 11 fights on the night and it’s all players that are fighting each other so it promises to be a great night. There is a massive buzz amongst the lads.
What three words best describe your role?
- Varied
- Hands-on
- Challenging
Before working for Kelly Group, what was the most unusual or interesting job you have ever had?
Before Kelly Rail, I worked for a Rock & Pop Merchandise company after I left school, it was exciting as we got to meet a lot of bands & attended a lot of concerts, after that we managed the Kangol clothing brand, this was great fun, at the time it was a very popular brand so a lot of celebrities would attend our trade fairs etc.
If you could switch your job with anyone else for one week, whose job would you want to experience?
If I could swap jobs with anyone for a week I would like to experience my boxing trainer’s role, to make a difference in people’s health and fitness ability and make anyone believe that the impossible is possible regardless of age or ability.
What advice do you have for new Kelly Group engineers coming into the business?
Work hard, and take advantage of the wealth of knowledge held by your long-serving colleagues. You will make great friends for life in Kelly Group.
What 3 words would your friends/family use to describe you?
- Funny
- Caring
- Hard-working
What is your proudest moment?
On a personal level being the mother of two beautiful girls is my proudest moment. On a professional level, I am so proud of how the business has grown during my time at Kelly Rail.
