This year marks an incredible milestone for Emma Hardisty, who is celebrating 10 years at Accent.
We recently sat down with Emma to reflect on her journey, from starting in our Housing Hub, to building a rewarding career in Learning and Development. She shared some of her favourite memories, proudest achievements, and what has kept her at Accent for the past decade.
Emma joined Accent in 2015 as part of the Housing Hub, where she quickly discovered a passion for supporting others. She particularly enjoyed helping to train new starters, which inspired her to take the next step in her career and join our Learning and Development team as an Organisational Development Advisor. Since then, Emma has continued to grow and has recently been promoted to Organisational Development & Capability Specialist.
When asked what has kept her at Accent for so long, Emma's answer was simple:
"The people."
She spoke about how much she enjoys working alongside passionate colleagues across the organisation and the supportive culture that makes Accent such a rewarding place to work.
When talking about her favourite memory, Emma reflected on an unexpected moment – the COVID-19 pandemic. Although it was a challenging time for everyone, she remembers how it brought colleagues closer together. Conversations with customers became more personal, teams supported one another, and there was a real sense that everyone was working together to help people through a difficult period.
One of Emma's proudest moments came when the Learning and Development team attended the Yorkshire HR Awards after being shortlisted for four awards. On the night, the team won two awards – a moment Emma still remembers with pride.
"The realisation that we'd won was so special. We were all so happy that our hard work had been recognised. It really felt like, 'Look what we've done!'"
So, what makes Accent special?
For Emma, it's the passion and commitment of the people.
"Everyone cares. Everyone is passionate about what they do, and everyone wants to get involved and make a difference."
Congratulations, Emma, on reaching this fantastic milestone, and thank you for everything you've contributed over the past 10 years.
Click here to watch our interview with Emma and hear more about her Accent journey.