What made you choose Arbtech?
My Arbtech journey started with selling the director a new car!
With a background predominantly in sales, I wasn’t your average or usual candidate for a company where I would create a career within the finance sector. A couple of weeks later, I was sitting down with Rob over a coffee, learning about the company’s morals and the dreams Rob was already making a reality, and understanding exactly what the vision for this company was.
I knew I wanted to be a part of this, and Rob was kind enough to take a chance on me that day. We didn’t necessarily know where I would fit skills-wise, but Rob always said that if the personality was there, we could make the rest work – and we did.
What do you love most about the company?
The absolute best thing about Arbtech is working for a company where you look forward to coming to work on a Monday.
I work with a fantastic group of people in HQ, and we strive to bring out the best in each other every day.
Another great thing about Arbtech is the socials. Rob gives us the freedom to plan things that we enjoy or are passionate about and invite others in the company to go, let our hair down and have a great time – I’ve never experienced anything like that before!
I love working for Rob. He’s taken a massive chance on me, but at the same time, I think he’s really pushed me to make the most of my life. I have recently started my AAT qualification – something that without Rob’s help would have never been an option for me – but he’s made that happen. That’s why I love working for Arbtech.
What do you do when you are not at Arbtech?
When I’m not at Arbtech, I can usually be found in the local gym working out with friends. I enjoy fitness, but I also find that it’s a great opportunity to catch up and socialise with friends who also have busy lives and can’t always make the time to see me socially.
My passion is spending time and making memories with my seven-year-old daughter She’s a wild child and I realise, as time goes on, that she grows and changes right in front of my eyes. It all seems to go so quickly, and It’s time that I will never get back with her.
I also have a huge passion for cars, and I love to go to car events and meets across the country. A personal favourite is V-DUB fest at Santa Pod. It’s not one to miss!
I’ve always been interested in cars since I was a young girl. I can remember helping my dad do oil changes on his ford Cosworth (I wish he had that car now) when I was around six years old, and when I passed my test at 17, the obsession just grew and grew.
I’ve always said my dream job would either be a rally driver or a female Jeremy Clarkson in the Top Gear years – what a life!
What is your biggest tip to achieve the most in life?
Push your boundaries.
Nothing comes to those who sit and wait for it; you have to strive for more and visit some really uncomfortable places to achieve the most in life.
If you stay as comfortable as you are right now, you will only ever achieve what you have done so far.
We are put on this earth for an average of 89 years; most people retire around the age of 65.
That’s a long time to live a life you aren’t happy with but a lot of time to do something about it.
What is the best social you’ve been on at Arbtech?
Austria!
Without a second of hesitation, that was one of the best trips of my life.
I pushed myself to do things that I was nervous about doing, and I really enjoyed doing them.
I found my passion for jiu-jitsu again following an accident where I had my nose broken a couple of months ago, and I even went skiing for the first time in my life.
As I mentioned earlier, Rob likes to open doors of opportunity for people. Without Rob funding that trip, I may have never experienced skiing, and for that, I am eternally grateful.
I also got the time to get to know some of my amazing colleagues whom I wouldn’t normally see. As we all live across the country, a social like this is something very special, and it enables us to really bond and forge new friendships and relationships.
Where do you want to travel to next?
I would love to travel to America next, even if It’s just a few weeks of driving across the west coast.
I want to feel the Californian sand between my toes and drive down Rodeo Drive at sunset.
I’ve always had a travelling bug. When I was 23, I decided to book a one-way ticket to Australia, and it was literally the best thing I have ever done.
America has always been somewhere on my tick list; I think it’s the perfect place to travel.
As of this year, we have an insane 40-day holiday allowance – something I haven’t heard of anywhere else – so I already have London, Lisbon and Barcelona booked with my boyfriend. Later this year, I want to visit the family home in the south of France too and maybe have a cheeky weekend in Amsterdam!
Where do you see yourself in 5 years’ time?
Professionally, I see myself as fully qualified in my AAT degree, having progressed within my role at Arbtech to a senior level. That would be the absolute ideal for me.
Personally, I want to spend the next five years of my life broadening my horizons and sharpening my mind.
I want to have experienced more in the next five years than I have in the last.
I like to take risks. I find that, in life, if you don’t push yourself, then not a lot happens or changes.
As a side income, I want to be a homeowner with a view to buying houses to rent over the next five to 10 years, so I’ve set myself a goal to really push this idea, starting this year.
What is a goal you have for the future, in or out of work?
This has been a goal of mine for as long as I can remember. But I want to take a summer out in a few years and be a ring taxi driver on the Nürburgring in Germany.
As I mentioned earlier, cars have always been a passion of mine, but my real obsession is driving and racing.
I visited the ring in 2020, and after five laps around the track, my heart was stolen.
I stayed in a beautiful village five minutes away from the track called Adenau – one of the most stunning places I have ever visited – and it had enough trees to sufficiently satisfy all of Arbtech’s arboriculture team!
Harriet joined Arbtech in March 2022.
