What’s your current role and what do you do in it? 

I’m the Head of Debt Solutions at the Accountant in Bankruptcy, Scotland’s Insolvency Service. 

How did you get to where you are today? 

I joined the Civil Service on 24th September 1990 (yes, I remember the exact date), as an administration officer, on a 6-month casual contract with the Department for Work and Pensions. I loved my customer service role so much I stayed. I particularly liked helping pensioners understand the benefits they were entitled to. Most were proud and didn’t want to receive a “handout” until you explained they were entitled to this extra money. 

I joined the Accountant in Bankruptcy in November 2005 and worked in several teams and branches within the AiB, progressing though the grades to become the Head of Debt Solutions.

I put my career on hold and worked part time for 15 years, while I had my 3 kids. Juggling even a parttime job with 3 kids was challenging, as it didn’t leave any time for self-care. It was a struggle; especially as maternity leave only lasted for 18 weeks when I had my first child. Going back to work when my child was only 6 weeks old was one of the worst experiences. I don’t think I would have coped without my mum who was supportive and watched my kids while I was at work. I was luckier than most of my work colleagues as I had my mum, while they had to put their children in nurseries which was very costly.  

I don’t believe that coming from a working-class background and socially deprived area, has held me back. What held me back was my own feelings of being inadequate. I have had bouts of “imposter syndrome” throughout my career but I have a good mentor who helped banish these feelings. 

What made you decide to pursue a career in insolvency and restructuring? 

I wanted to help people out of debt and give them a fresh start. I believe anyone who enters a debt product is vulnerable, and when you receive feedback that they have slept for the first time in years you know the system works.  

What EDI initiatives have you benefitted from in your firm? 

I believe diversity and inclusion in AiB has come a long way and difficult subjects are no longer avoided. Particularly as over 60% of the workforce is female.   

Wellbeing – AiB introduced a wellbeing aspect to staff’s monthly chats, to ensure mental health is discussed and staff receive the support they need. 

Menopause – we have arranged a monthly menopause café which is aimed at increasing awareness of the impact of the menopause on those experiencing it, as well as the impact on their family, friends, and colleagues.  

What’s the one thing you would like to see the profession do differently when it comes to EDI? 

I do believe we there is a lot we can improve upon – particularly neurodiversity. The biggest barrier I see in the organisation is understanding Diversity and Inclusion, I find most people worry about saying the wrong thing or unintentionally offending someone.

Why did you become a D&I Champion? 

I wanted to help build a diverse and inclusive workforce in AiB and make recruiters within the organisation aware of unconscious biases and discrimination. 

Which aspect of the role is most important to you and why? 

I came from a socially deprived area and wanted to make changes to how we recruit. In years gone by Civil Service recruitment was based on qualifications. In the area where I live most people, including myself, leave school without going onto further education. I wanted to remove the barrier of qualifications and give Modern Apprentices the chance of a good job in the Civil Service, based on their skills and lived experience. This approach has worked well and we have recruited over a dozen Modern Apprentices who have successfully secured a permanent position within the organisation. 

What are the best examples of EDI initiatives you have seen in the profession? 

In the AiB:

• Recruitment – we made the decision to grow our own talent and not focus on qualifications or experience of working in the insolvency sector, when recruiting apprentices. This removed barriers and ensured we encouraged young people from all backgrounds to apply.  
• Financial education – we commit time to teaching primary school kids the consequences of poor financial choices and subsequent debt, through the Skills 4 Bills game.
• Career days – we participate in career fairs at secondary schools within our local area.
• Application & Interview training – AiB expanded the support to students by offering schools training sessions on completing application forms and interview skills.

More widely, as part of the Scottish Government initiative all period products are provided free to staff.