Name: Elizabeth Swann
Job title: Residential Bid Team Leader
Tell us a bit about yourself
I’ve lived in Handsacre all my life and I now live here with my husband, daughter and our menagerie of animals which include three dogs, three rabbits, tropical fish (an Oscar & Parrot fish along with some other bottom feeders which I couldn’t tell you the names of as that’s my husband’s domain). We also have two crested geckos, a praying mantis, a scorpion, some little blue beetles and a tortoise called Terry.
We are massive foodies in our house, so I love eating out and experimenting at home.
I also love to explore so we often find ourselves on the weekends that my husband is off visiting historical sites but now since my daughter has started football our weekends are now taken up by training and football matches on Sundays. Although life can be hectic, I love nothing more than a good TV series and to binge watch with a good snack selection. My snack of choice is normally olives and Ryvita thins with hummus where my husband’s is a big bag of Haribos.
Describe your job to a five-year-old:
I price things that you’d find in the bathroom
What do you like most about your job?
Although some days my job can be challenging, it is equally rewarding at the same time. I have an excellent manager and my team is amazing. The thing I love most about my job is that no two days are the same. I’d just like to say that we have been faced with our fair share of challenges in the past 12 months and I couldn’t be prouder than I am of myself and my wonderful team for the time and effort we have all put in!
How did you get here?
After the normal primary school and high school malarky, I went on to college to study Art and Design where I mainly studied Photoshop and drawing, which as a kid I had a massive passion for. You’d always find me with a pencil in my hand doodling on something. Soon after that I fell pregnant with my daughter, so had a few years out to be a mum. Once my daughter was in full-time education, I got a job on the checkouts at Morrisons Lichfield where I stayed for nearly seven years. After realising I wanted something with a bit more of a challenge, I applied here, and I was lucky to be offered the job in our business support office under Michelle Andrews doing estimating. Just over a year of being an estimator I applied for the job of Senior Bid Executive and I was again lucky enough to have been offered the job on our Residential Channel.
2020 was a difficult year for us all but I was lucky enough to be a part of a small skeleton staff that remained working the whole way through lockdown where I was able to expand my knowledge, and people skills among a few other areas that I was lucky enough to develop. With that I felt those areas that I had developed in put me in good stead for the Bid Team Leader job which is where I am today.
What motivates you?
My family motivate me the most and the fact I like to go shopping.
If you could swap jobs with anyone, who would it be?
A forensic scientist.
Your favourite song lyric or line from a film?
I had a million answers for this question and couldn’t just stick to one, so I thought I’d say a quote which I have been using on a daily basis which is courtesy of Harvey Price – “Oh what a day“
Your favourite app?
I would be lying if I said something along the lines of Facebook or Instagram, but I must be true to myself and say Tik Tok.
Biggest facepalm moment at work?
Leaving a voicemail message on Liam Ansell’s phone and not being able to say distribution properly. I tried about six times and after being corrected I still couldn’t say it!!