‘Do it your way’
Throughout this week we’ll be sharing stories from around the business to highlight our inclusion campaign - Altogether Different.
Bernadette Moat is a work area manager at Home Counties North mail centre. She is also a member of our Women’s steering group.
Bernadette started work as a postwoman in 2000 at Hemel Hempstead mail centre, working on a number of different shifts as well as a short spell on deliveries.
‘In 2010 I was fortunate to be offered an advanced apprentice scheme through Royal Mail,’ she said. ‘I applied and passed an interview and then had to do my first presentation. I studied hard and passed my Institute of Leadership Management (ILM) award and Adult Literacy and Numeracy City & Guilds. Alongside the scheme I shadowed and covered various manager’s roles in the mail centre.
‘At the back end of 2011, three mail centres migrated to what is now Home Counties North and I was one of the first teams there managing our T2k (flat sorting machine). Then, in 2015, I enrolled in a Spring Forward course for career progression for women work area managers. Last year, my mail centre manager, Mick Barry, encouraged and supported me to cover the early shift manager’s role, and this is where I have been for the last six months.
‘I am really proud to work for Royal Mail as I believe it’s a great company to work for. The business has given me the opportunity and flexibility to have a career, gain qualifications and be a mother of five and grandmother of four! Between myself and my husband we have eight children and five grandchildren, in fact my son, Andrew, is the early shift manager at Princess Royal distribution centre.
‘My favourite part of my role is the people I have the pleasure of working with and I firmly believe in promoting the idea of bringing your whole self to work – I know I certainly do! I love colleague engagement and managing the team’s mental wellbeing. In the past year, our engagement score has increased from 66 to 77, which is something we’re all really proud of.
‘I am first-aid trained in mental health and I regularly put my skill to practice. I try to always put myself in my frontline colleagues’ shoes and listen to how they feel by regularly joining focus group meetings.
‘In the past year we have created a Home Counties North women’s group. So far, we have held one event, which was great, and we’re currently planning more. With guest speakers for inspiration there was a great buzz in the room. One of our ladies has since been shadowing work area managers and covering annual leave.
‘If I was to give advice to anybody who wants to further their career or just be involved in something different, I would tell them it’s okay to have a knowledge gap. You can always learn on the job and I’m a firm believer in “you get out what you put in”. This proved true right from the very beginning of my career in Royal Mail. I didn’t think I would ever learn all the postcodes in the UK as I was terrible at geography. But I put my mind to it and was successful.
‘For every stepping stone I have ever taken I have struggled as I have always felt that I needed to know all the ins and outs of a role before I took it on. As a woman working for the business most of the role models are men, so this may be why some women believe they’ll struggle to mirror roles. To them, I would simply say: “Do it your way”.
Watch our video below to hear more on what it feels like to be included.
Supporting female colleagues
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If you would like to get involved in the Women’s steering group or the planning for future women’s national events, please email: gender.diversity@royalmail.com.
