News

Business-focused Katy Haigh had no idea what she wanted to do when she left the University of Leeds with a degree in Management Studies.

While scouring many internet and newspaper job ads for some inspiration, she came across a graduate programme with leading telecoms provider Daisy Group Plc and decided to take the plunge.

Seeing management potential in the 21-year-old talent, Daisy snapped Katy up and she was set to work in the company’s contracts department.

Daisy’s graduate scheme runs over a two-year period and within that time you spend three months in each of the company’s key departments.

Katy said: “Operating the scheme in this way gives you a great insight in to the everyday workings of a company.

“At the end of each three month stint I had to write a report on what I thought I could improve on in that department.

“As I worked my way through the various departments, I really got to thinking about how one department’s role affected another’s and my reports included ways in which we could ensure smooth procedures throughout the whole company.”

The aim of the Daisy graduate scheme is to fast-track candidates into a management position within a two-year period and, bang on schedule, Katy was awarded the role of Reseller Support Manager.

This was a new role within the company and Katy wasted no time in setting up a successful operational channel for sales.

Katy said: “Up until that point Daisy only dealt with business partners, whose role is to sell Daisy products for industry leading commissions. My challenge was find resellers to who we could sell white label products and then go on to sell under their own brand name.”

To enable this channel’s ongoing success, Katy was instrumental in setting up a reseller support team and reseller portal which could deal with every day orders.

Such was Katy’s success in this role, she was soon asked to head up the business support team, as well the reseller one, adding to her list of responsibilities within the company.

It was while carrying out this additional role that Katy’s true business light began to shine. The company had acquired customers and business partners from the telecoms firm Thus and it was her role to ensure a smooth transition for both.

She said: “Thus had a lot of business partners and as I had dealt with many business partners through Daisy in the past, it was my job to promote the daisy brand to them, ensuring that they bought into it.”

It was this that led Katy along the path of acquisitions under the guidance of Daisy’s then financial director.

Within 22 months Katy confidently handled the smooth transition of 14 acquisitions earning herself the title ‘head of acquisitions’.

Katy said: “I love this role, as every deal carried out is slightly different to the last. I have a low boredom threshold and you can be certain that this job is never mundane.

“Whenever we are looking at a new acquisition, someone always raises an idea with their department hat on. As an all rounder within the company I have the ability to flesh out these ideas and make sure they have been thought out from every angle.”

Since Katy started at Daisy six years ago, Daisy’s employee base has grown from 35 to several hundred.

“This has given me invaluable business experience and an enviable career path,” said Katy.

“And while the company is very different to when I first started here, it still retains its focus on people, both internally and externally. I really couldn’t think of anywhere better to work.”

For more details and interview opportunities, please contact Katharine Butler, PR Executive. Tel: 01282 607785 or e-mail: fiona.ritchie@daisyplc.com

www.daisyplc.com