Katie’s story
Finance and property
Meet Katie. As a Support Officer in our Facilities Management team, she’s come a long way since she joined us as part of the Modern Apprenticeship Scheme. There are a number of ways that Barnsley Council has helped to realise her ambitions – Katie tells us how, as well as the strangest thing that she’s done since she joined us.
I started working for Barnsley Council through the Modern Apprentice Scheme with Barnsley College, and I started off in the Complaints Team at Wellington House. And then I moved on to a temporary contract within Facilities Management, and got made permanent in December, and that’s where I am now.
I found the selection process really easy, and the guidance notes that were provided were a great help when doing the application form.
Barnsley Council supported my career and ambitions by supporting me through my Level 2 NVQ, and then my Level 3. I’ve also done external training courses through my PDRs (performance and development review).
The best thing about my role is meeting different people within the building and on reception. I also get to work at different council buildings, providing a support service.
Living and working in Barnsley’s great. I currently commute, it’s about 20 minutes. There’s a regeneration project going on as well, so it’s great to see the town moving forward. There are loads of places to go in your lunch hour, meet your friends and go out for lunch.
The most unusual thing I’ve done as part of my work was to deliver cool drinks to the building occupants, as there was a heating problem within the building.
The colleagues in my department are really supportive, and we all work together well. If there are any problems we can come together and tackle them as one.
We deal with queries that come in from building occupants, so one day we could be dealing with a leak on Level 4, and then petty cash claims, stationery and changing milk on Level 2.
I would recommend working at Barnsley Council to a friend as there are great benefits, such as the flexi scheme, pension, various areas to work within the council, and also the area around it.
