Get to know our new Regional Relationship Manager, Emma

Let us introduce our new Regional Relationship Manager for the Midlands, Emma Hesbrook. Emma comes to us from a strong HE procurement background, and loves travel and training her pet Labradoodle, Baxter. Welcome to the company…

1. What does the role of Regional Relationship Manager entail?

Essentially, I will be advising and guiding our clients on their procurement strategies and supporting them where required in conducting any mini-competitions and utilising our Frameworks ?? . I will also be busy promoting the business throughout the Midlands and developing our regional client base ?.

2. You’ll be home-based (Shropshire) so do you have any tips for making your home your office?

Making sure I’m tuned in to the Pagabo office Spotify playlist for sure ?, oh and keeping up with the brew rounds so Baxter (my new furry canine colleague ☕️?) doesn’t think I’m lazy.

3. You previously worked in procurement at a university, so this is a big change?

In my previous role, I managed built environment related procurement processes, and at Pagabo I’ll be supporting our HE clients in doing the same, so there are some good similarities ✅. I’m looking forward to being out and about, working with clients from different sectors though.  It is also a welcome change to work for a small and fast-paced organisation .

4. There’s rumour you are living in a refurbished cow shed in the countryside?

Ha-ha, yes, a Grade II listed one! It is very nearly finished.  My other half, Chris, has been doing all of the work himself at weekends, so it has been quite some time in the making ?.

5. What are your hobbies?

I like to give Judith Chalmers (showing my age here) a run for her money on the travel front! Last year I managed to travel around both Australia and India and visit Copenhagen, Bordeaux and Mexico ✈️.  This year hasn’t seen as many countries, having visited France twice…Chamonix for a ski-trip and then road tripping around the South of the country with Baxter but we did manage a Warsaw city break and have recently returned from travelling around Vietnam.  When I’m not trying to see the world, Baxter and I compete in dog agility ??‍♀️? (you know, over the jumps, through the weaves, tunnels, see-saw etc.), which is so much fun!

6. Can dog training have lessons for the rest of us?

Most definitely! There is a lot to be said for patience and perseverance in getting the results you’re after. Oh, and always stay positive when things go wrong ??!

7. When will you be entering Crufts?

Competing on the Crufts green carpet would be amazing ?!  Whilst we won’t ever make the cut for the Agility Championship (Baxter isn’t a Collie), we are going to try and get to some ABC (Anything But Collie) qualifiers this Summer, so watch this space! ??

8. What’s your best-kept secret in terms of travel destinations?

How underrated France is for sure ?? ?!  Pedalo-ing down the Verdon Gorge and walking Baxter through the old ochre mines in the small village of Roussillon were particular highlights – you just wouldn’t think you were in France.

9. What are your top travel tips?

Don’t drink too much on long haul flights (although I don’t seem to take my own advice here, having been hanging in both Delhi and Hanoi) ???‍♀️ .  But seriously, invest in a good travel pillow…definitely the reason I don’t suffer from jet lag ???.

Good luck in the new job, Emma and welcome to Pagabo.