Take a peek behind the Stonegate curtain and hear from the fabulous Abbie, Marketing Manager for Slug & Lettuce! Abbie has spent an impressive ten years with us and tells us about her experience on Stonegate Group’s female mentoring programme.
Can you tell us how you came to join Stonegate?
I started off looking for part-time bar work while I was at university; however, I have stayed with the business for so long due to great career progression opportunities, a willingness to develop people, and being able to work with such an amazing team of people.
What do you enjoy most about working at Stonegate?
I would say the relationships I have made with people not only in my direct team but also in the wider team is something I really enjoy about working at Stonegate. There is a real team atmosphere, and I’ve made some lifelong friendships from my time at Stonegate.
What kind of education did your career require?
There are no specific education requirements, so I wouldn’t see education as a barrier to entry; however, a bachelor’s degree is often preferred.
How has your career progressed or changed during your time at Stonegate?
I started my career as a part-time bar team member, and through progression opportunities, I’ve now developed into a marketing manager for the same brand I started working for over ten years ago!
What advice would you give your younger self?
I think I would like to tell my younger self to be confident in your abilities and not to let self-doubt hold you back.
Can you tell us a bit about your experience as part of Stonegate’s female mentoring programme?
I was nominated by my line manager to be a part of the programme and had the opportunity to be mentored. It is a great way to create relationships with a senior manager in the business you wouldn’t normally interact with on a day-to-day basis who can offer advice from a new perspective.
My mentor was also from another part of the business, which gave me some fascinating insight into an aspect of the business I would not normally be involved in. It allowed me to broaden my understanding of the business as a whole.
My mentor also had a vast knowledge of working with people, so they gave me some really valuable advice while also pushing me to challenge and develop myself.
What advice would you give someone who is interested in the programme or is currently taking part?
I would say to use the programme as an opportunity to develop your relationship with your mentor. Make sure to ask questions; they are a fantastic resource to use as a sounding board for things you might not usually discuss with your own line manager.
I had such a great experience on the programme, and my mentor was amazing; they encouraged me to apply for my current role, so it’s an invaluable resource if you are thinking about career progression.
What excites you the most about your work?
My role allows me to be creative and innovative. I love being able to propose and explore new ideas, and collaborate with my team. I’m always looking for the next new thing!
Do you have any advice for anyone interested in getting into your department or job role?
I would say that digital marketing should definitely be at the forefront of everything you do. A key part of my role is focused on digital strategies and innovation, so it’s important to always keep this in mind for campaigns.
What skills are required in your day-to-day?
Marketing is fast-paced and always changing, so you have to have the ability to think on your feet, be flexible, and have excellent time management skills. Along with this, there are a lot of people skills involved in my role. I interact with different people from all different departments daily, so I have to have strong communication. I would also say you need to be able to multi-task. There are a lot of moving parts to executing a campaign, so it’s important to stay on top of them!
Finally, what do you love the most about your job?
I love being able to see through a project from start to finish. It’s really rewarding to take something from an idea, create a concept, and develop it into a fully-fledged campaign that I can then see implemented on site.