At Harrier, you probably hear a lot about the events, health and safety training and advising that we carry out, but how much do you know about the team themselves?
Seeing as we’re all about putting people first, it’s time you got to know our people! We caught up with five members of the Harrier team to find out their quirks and what they love about working with Harrier.
“It’s the people who make Harrier such a great place to work.” Meet Managing Director Andy
Andy Smith has been with Harrier from the very start, having set up the company back in 2010. He has worked on all kinds of projects, including the first concert under the ‘new’ Wembley arch! A former RAF serviceman, Andy was stationed in Berlin when the Wall came down and witnessed an important moment in history.
“Working alongside everyone at Harrier is what I love most about being here,” Andy told us. “The commitment the entire team has for their work is amazing, and I love their enthusiasm as well.”
What you might not know about Andy is that he was once thrown off Top of the Pops, not for anything he did, but because the lead singer of a band he was managing turned up late. Not a great way to find new fans!
“We work with such a variety of clients… each day is different.” Meet Business Manager Helen
Despite describing herself as the “least sporty person in the team”, Helen McCabe has made everyone envious by holding both the FA Cup and the Olympic Torch. She has been a key member of the Harrier team since 2014, working across all areas of the business, such as supporting small business and managing events and our training.
“Because we work with such a variety of clients and on a wide range of projects, you’re constantly thinking on your feet,” Helen explained. “But that’s what I really love about working at Harrier, that and the fact we have such an amazing team too!”
Helen truly has a way with words. She can say the phrase ‘I love you’ in nine different languages. Yes, you read that right… nine!
“Harrier is so upbeat, energetic and progressive.” Meet Health & Safety Advisor Gina
Through working with small businesses and seeing their progress, Gina loves getting to know everyone in the businesses she works with, from the MD all the way to the chief tea-maker.
“When I first met Helen and Andy, they were so enthusiastic and optimistic about their work,” Gina explained. “I immediately knew I wanted to work with them. Everyone is so energetic and upbeat and that’s what I love most about being a part of the Harrier family.”
Gina has a love of animals, especially elephants and whales. She previously studied zoology, with the hope to be at the forefront of saving her favourite wildlife though it didn’t quite pan out that way.
“I ended up identifying marine worms in Oban, Scotland which really wasn’t for me!” Gina shared. “So I decided to go travelling for year and ended up in Thailand teaching English before coming home care of my travel insurance with a cripplingly bad back. Still with a bad back I decided to do an MSc at Derby University in Environmental Pollution Control as I could still study even though I couldn’t sit or stand for long! That’s how I got into health and safety – environmental management and a bad back!”
“I love the work that Harrier does for charities and there’s such a lovely team of people here!” Meet Projects Coordinator Davina
Davina is the newest addition to the Harrier team having joined us in June 2018, but her enthusiasm and love of her work is incredible!
“It’s so hard to pick my favourite thing about working at Harrier as there’s so much!” Davina told us. “If I had to choose, it’d have to be the wonderful team of people and the lovely clients we work with – they’re the ones that make working here fun and enjoyable.”
A big music fan, Davina’s first gig was seeing REM and The Cranberries at Milton, closely followed by Terrorvision at De Montfort University in Leicester. Not a bad introduction to live music!
And that’s just a snapshot of the team here at Harrier! If you want to find out more about what our fantastic health & safety team can do for your business or event, get in touch with us on 01332 460703.