Manjit Chahal joined in 2003 as a Contact Centre Team Leader. For him, Anglian Water has provided the ideal balance of professional challenges and targeted support. "Here, we're closer to our managers than at most companies and they're more able to see our strengths and support us where we most need it. That's particularly important to me. I like an environment where everyone is prepared to help. If someone is struggling it doesn't go unnoticed. Likewise, if things are going well, it's quickly acknowledged."
Manjit's role brings plenty of variety. Recently, he's had to prepare his team for the changeover to a whole new billing system – SAP. It's not just about learning something himself, it's also about ensuring his team can apply the right skills to a new challenge. "With a team of up to twenty people, there's so much you need to consider:
- Has everyone had the training?
- Can everyone apply what they have learned?
There are different needs and different strengths and it's a real test of my abilities to make sure that we can all use the new system with confidence. It's the biggest challenge I've faced so far."
In this job, no two days are the same. What's more, the people make it interesting. “When I started, most of the staff in the call centre were older. Now, there has been a real effort to recruit younger people and the age group now range from 21 to 55. As a manager, I deal with all sorts of people with different ideas and goals. Plus, I think recruiting more widely really helps the business by balancing strengths. I have to say people tend to stay with Anglian Water. They're confident that their hard work is noticed and appreciated and they benefit from plenty of training and development."