Meet the Team - Annabelle Harwood

We recently caught up with Compliance & Business Support Manager, Annabelle Harwood to discover what she loves about Spencer Clarke Group, how her career path led her to Spencer Clarke Group and what’s next for the compliance team.

How long have you worked at Spencer Clarke Group?

I have been here since June 2019! It's gone so fast but I've enjoyed every second.

What does your role entail?

When candidates are placed into work, it is up to my team to ensure that they are fully compliant before starting their role. Different vendors and councils which we work with have varying levels of requirements so we must fulfill their needs before the candidates start date.

I manage three people within the compliance team so I also have to make sure that everyone knows what they are doing and that all updates on requirements are rolled out to the team. Our team is also responsible for all the audits which come through.

What do you love most about what you do?

I’m a people person so I love working closely with candidates to make sure that they are fully compliant before starting their new role. A lot of communication is needed so that our consultants, the candidate and the client are up to speed on what they need to know.

What motivates you at work?

When a candidate file becomes fully compliant, I get a little buzz from it because I know that they can start their new role.

I also love getting passes for our audits. We’ve always scored 97% or above which is something I am very proud of because they can be challenging and time consuming - it’s worth it in the end though!

How would you describe working at Spencer Clarke Group?

We’re like a little family here; everyone is really supportive of each other. It’s such an enjoyable working environment and there’s a good balance between having fun and getting on with the job in hand.

The Directors are very passionate about making the business run smoothly and they’re not afraid to get involved in the day to day running to make sure that everyone is doing their job in the right way.

Tell us about your career path so far

During my school and college years, I worked part time in the family business which taught me to have a great work ethic from a young age. I left college with 3 distinction stars and headed into a Primary School Teaching degree, the first two years at Newman College and the final year at the University of Central Lancashire.

After leaving University with a 2:1 degree, I decided that teaching might not be the path for me after all and I began work at a recruitment agency in Preston.

A few months into this job, I was presented with the opportunity to join Spencer Clarke Group and so I decided to take the plunge and join them.

Spencer Clarke Group was only 2 years old at this point but the Directors spoke really passionately about the future of the business and I wanted to be a part of that. It’s the best thing I ever did because I love working here!

How would your colleagues describe you?

I think that they would describe me as confident, bubbly, hard working, committed and always willing to help others.

Where are we most likely to find you outside of work?

You would probably find me Muay Thai boxing at Johnson's gym or in the kitchen cooking - my favorite thing to cook is a fillet steak with homemade chips and peppercorn sauce.

I also love to bake and I make a mean Carrot cake, raspberry and white chocolate cake and lemon drizzle. I actually started up a little cake business called ‘Lots of Loaf’ selling mini loaf cakes.

I also love socialising with family and friends - usually going for a nice meal somewhere. My absolute favourite is sushi!

Tell us something we’d never guess about you!

I used to travel to the United Arab Emirates 3-4 times a year to visit my mum who has lived there for 11 years now.

What’s next for you at Spencer Clarke Group?

I would love to grow the compliance team, keep learning and progressing and share that knowledge with my team to help them grow.

I’m also keen to continue reviewing our compliance processes to ensure that we’re always working in the most efficient way possible.

10 Quick Fire Questions!

What’s your favourite film?

Pretty Woman.

Where’s the best place you’ve traveled to?

Vietnam - we went to three places during that trip. In Ho Chi Minh, we did a food tour on the back of a moped. In Da Nang, we did a Vietnamese cooking class and a boat trip, and in Hanoi, we did some sightseeing and explored the area.

What advice would you give to your young self?

Always do what makes you happy and don’t care too much about what other people think.

Have you ever met anyone famous?

No.

What three items would you take with you to a deserted island?

Water, sunglasses and a raft to try and get off the island!

Do you have any pets?

No.

Do you have any hidden talents?

I like to think that I can dance but I’m not a professional!

What’s the best gig you’ve been to?

John Legend - I cried happy tears the whole way through!

What animal is your spirit animal?

A dolphin because I’m a good swimmer.

What’s your guilty pleasure?

Eating Yorkshire Puddings with sugar on!