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Tue 5 July 2022
A simple part-time job following starting a family, began a whole new career for Alison Orton at Andrew Granger & Co.
Alison (51), from Foxton, previously worked as a financial advisor and then trained financial advisors for Barclays Premier Banking before having her two sons (now aged 13 and 16).
As with a lot of parents, Alison got to a point where her sons reached a certain age and she felt she’d like to do a few hours of work again. A chance conversation with her neighbour at the time, Jill Griffiths, Lettings Director at Andrew Granger & Co, made her aware that the Market Harborough office sales team were looking for help in the sales of a large development of apartments and having interviewed, Alison began helping with holiday cover and occasional property viewings.
It wasn’t long before there was an opportunity for Alison to do permanent part-time hours for the sales team and these hours grew as her children did – with her carefully balancing childcare and the needs of her sons, with hours that worked all round.
Alison’s experience and knowledge developed over time, and she went from arranging and conducting viewings, to handling sales offers and sales progression.
Once Covid-19 struck and Alison juggled her role from home, alongside her husband and two sons, it was this experience that taught her that she missed the in-person interaction with clients and colleagues and was keen to get back into the office as well as increase her hours once more.
At this point the Market Harborough lettings team happened to be looking for another full-time member of the team and Alison made the swap from property sales to property lettings and took on the role of Lettings Negotiator.
That was over a year ago, and almost 12 years since Alison started working for Andrew Granger & Co, and she has recently been promoted to Senior Lettings Negotiator.
Alison adds: “I’ve been very grateful to find a local company to work for that has core values, who offers flexibility and the understanding of family life. It has meant that I could be there for my family when they need me, alongside having and building a new career.
“I feel lucky to have been able to take working again at a pace that has felt right for us as a family, and I’ve always felt that there has been a chance to progress within the company if and when I’ve wanted to.
“The skills I have learnt within property sales have transferred well into property lettings and I really enjoy the faster pace of this part on the industry, progressing the applications and building long term relationships with clients and tenants. I’m also very excited to have trained my first team member recently.
“It’s hard to imagine that what started out as a few hours work here and there has led to this but it just goes to show what can happen, and I’m very glad it did.”
Andrew Granger & Co has been established for over 32 years, offering a whole range of property services across Leicestershire and beyond, from its three offices in Market Harborough, Leicester, and Loughborough. You can find out more, including any current job vacancies at www.andrewgranger.co.uk.
