Beverley Matthews
Business Development Manager
Masters athlete and college advocate to businesses
"What I love about my job is the level of real-world contact. One of the key accounts that I have been developing, for example, is Barclaycard. We work very closely in a business relationship as well as my getting involved in community work with them."
Beverley has been with the College since 2002 and her role is to promote training and consultancy services to local businesses. Before that she worked for 10 years as an Account Manager in the contract stationery sector. Outside work, Beverley is a keen Masters Athlete, competing in the 100 and 200 meter sprint locally, regionally, nationally and internationally.
"I wanted a change of role that could still use my sales skills and it has been a fascinating move into the public sector. The word that best sums it up is 'supportive'. Everyone internally supports my role with lots of advice and really proactive suggestions for new training and educational initiatives. On a personal basis, my line manager has been very supportive of my own development plans and I am currently pursuing an NVQ Level 4 in Management."
Hiding her light under a bushel, Beverley omitted to mention her ground-breaking part in tendering for and securing just under one million pounds in funding from the European Social Fund for a major project.