Laura is soon to be celebrating 8 years working at Smart Teacher's sister company Vision for Education. Having worked as a Resource Consultant for several years, an opportunity in marketing for Smart Teacher's parent company The Edwin Group came up that meant Laura could pursue her dream career without leaving the company or team she has loved working alongside.

Shortly after graduating university with a degree in English and History, Laura became a Resource Consultant at Vision for Education. She said: “I'm a very organised and methodical person, so the role really appealed to me. I was called in for an interview and instantly hit it off with the rest of the team. I really enjoyed working in the Teesside primary team assisting with the recruitment and clearance of teachers and support staff.”

It wasn't long before Laura's talents got noticed and she was asked to join the marketing team to support not only the Teesside team but also support the whole of The Edwin Group and it's companies Smart Teachers, Vision for Education and ABC Teachers.

“To work in marketing was something I had always wanted to pursue, but without a marketing specific degree I knew I'd find it hard to get my foot in the door. The Edwin Group supported me to enrol onto a year-long marketing qualification course, which I completed alongside starting work in my new role. It was a very steep learning curve (and I'm still learning every day), but I'm so lucky to have had the support of two excellent managers.”

Even though Laura started a new role in a new team, it didn't mean she had to leave her old team behind. She said: “I'm really lucky, I get to work with a brilliant marketing team, but I still get to work from the Teesside office every day. And with flexible working, I have the option to work from home as and when I need to as well. I've got to know so many brilliant, driven people and working with them in a role I've always wanted to work in, has been a fantastic opportunity for me.”

The people at The Edwin Group have years of experience and know how to nurture talent. This alongside professional development opportunities and on-the-job training, staff are supported to achieve big and be their best.

With The Edwin Group's help, Laura is now pursuing a new career and unlocking her marketing potential. She said: “Starting a new role with no previous marketing experience was a bit daunting – especially as I was so confident in what I was doing in my previous role. But I was surrounded by a very experienced team who were always on had to support me. With hard work, being receptive to feedback and striving to improve, I feel I've gone from strength to strength, plus working with two great teams I have never been afraid to ask if I was unsure about anything.”