Alison is proud to have joined a team which is committed to making a difference

"I have joined a brilliant team...I’m delighted to be working with such a motivated bunch of people, all trying to do the right thing to make everyone's lives better."

Alison Robinson has taken on a very complicated job at a very complicated time, but has hit the ground running thanks to a "brilliant" team around her.

Alison is settling into her role as Warwickshire County Council's Strategy and Commissioning Manager (Economy & Skills) at a uniquely challenging time for the county's economy and business community.

After more than 20 years in the private sector, in a range of commercial roles – contract management, marketing, strategy, finance - in the UK Energy industry, she sought a job where she could make a difference: where she could help people.

At the county council, Alison has such a job...and was delighted to find out that she has joined a team full of people driven by the same desire to support businesses and communities reeling from the pandemic.

"I have joined a brilliant team," Alison said. "I’m delighted to be working with such a motivated bunch of people, all trying to do the right thing to make everyone's lives better.

"Everyone I have met is so positive about their work. My team has worked so hard over the last nine months and is still giving. They have been through a lot, but are still pushing it. I am so impressed by them.

"It is a massive learning curve for me, but has been absolutely fascinating and everyone has been really generous with their time, getting me up to speed, as well as doing their own jobs so well. There is such a positive culture at the council and I am so pleased to be part of it.

"I really wanted my next role to have a tangible impact on the area in which I live and this job enables me to do that.

"When I saw the job spec, I thought 'wow'...that fits me! To have a job which allows me to help people with their businesses and skills is literally my dream role. I have a wide range of experience

and skills from industry and now I can use all my commercial experience to do some good."

Alison' strategic brief is broad: business and economy; employment and skills; the council's business centres; and supporting investment in the county's core industries (automotive and manufacturing and digital and creative for example).

To say the least, it is a busy gig, but that's the way Alison likes it - and she loves to see just how much is going on; how much support the council and its partners offer in so many ways to businesses and education-providers.

"I have had to hit the ground running but I like that," she said. "The need is there and the pull is there so you have to roll your sleeves up and get on with it. By having to be involved in it, I am learning more every day.

"The broadness of the role was part of the attraction for me. I have been amazed by the amount and breadth of support that is out there from the council and our partners for the people of Warwickshire. I look at what my team alone does and had no idea that many of the schemes and programmes existed, and then look at the wider environment and what the whole council does. I am really proud to be part of an organisation that does so much make Warwickshire the best it can be."