Meet Jane, our new Office Manager
Tell us a little bit about you…
Born in Stockport, south of Manchester to a Scottish Dad and English mum, my home before moving up here 10 years ago, was in the Peak District Park, in the sweetie town they make Love Hearts and Refreshers, so it smelled fabulous. I started my career as a Nanny in London to a family with Royal connections but first started in admin as Hotel Receptionist but have done all sorts over the years, from selling sunbeds, spending 12 years in marketing, managing an Estate Agency, to living in Los Angeles and working in the music industry. For the last 8 years though, I have lived on farms, so thought it about time I worked alongside them, hence moving to SA.
What keeps you busy at Scottish Agronomy?
I am the Office Manager, which means a wide range of duties from being the first-person visitors see to get a cheery welcome, to buying biscuits to keep the Trials Team going, sorting meetings , keeping the membership data updated and sending out the Bulletins and Mailchimp updates, to name just a few of my daily tasks.
What will you be found doing when you are not at work?
Myself and my partner Richard own a very successful Airbnb in Perth ‘ Wee Suzie Stays’, which keeps us very busy, together with our 3 Border Terriers and 1 Lab Cross. I also have a little sideline of making jams and preserves, which I make for guests, friends and colleagues. Any free time left, I am either stripping furniture or buying and selling antiques, which I love. Always on the look-out for that wee treasure worth a fortune!
What do you love about working at Scottish Agronomy?
It’s a pleasure to come to work every day and be amongst such lovely people. Everyone is very chilled and happy and have made me feel so very welcome since I joined.
If I hadn’t take the career path I’ve taken, I would have been…
I’d have loved to have gone to Wisley to do a RHS Diploma as I love gardening. Lockdown was a great time to me to escape into the garden of our new house and with the aid of facebook, I managed to fill the borders with free plants from around the neighborhood. I have been promised another greenhouse next year, so that’s another job to keep me away from the sofa!
Best or worst job you’ve ever had and why?
Best job, apart from SA, was working for BAE within Mission Systems, running a team of inspectors on the Queen Elizabeth and Price of Wales Aircraft Carriers, although battling the elements walking across the south arm of the Firth of Forth to the ships was pretty challenging sometimes!
The best piece of advice you’ve been given
My old boss Howard Seaton told me that I could do anything I put my mind too. I have always tried to prove him right and never say never no to anything. I’m always up for a challenge, unless of course it’s jumping off or out of anything! Not a chance!
Guilty pleasure?
Wine Gums and Champagne
Where’s your favourite place?
Provence definitely. Despite my love of Perthshire, it’s where Richard and I want to be when we retire and it does have the benefit of cheaper wine and a lot more sunshine!
