“There are many opportunities to grow and progress your career. It is all there if you want it."
Adrian’s move from accountancy to the education sector adds up
When Adrian Owen qualified as an accountant, he expected to work his entire career in finance.
But despite working for a very prestigious UK car brand, in 2008 he had a change of heart.
A move into estates management has led to a position as Deputy Director of Estates at leading Aston University, managing an £8m budget and around 90 staff.
The role includes leading on ‘soft FM’ services such as cleaning and pest control, managing finances and HR for the department, and taking on other projects. He is also Chair of the British Association of Cleaning in Higher Education and Facilities Management (BACHE-FM).
Describing his decision to change career, Adrian said: “I had a two-and-a-half year old and I was driving a 100-mile round trip every day to work. I was exhausted.
“I was just pushing numbers around on a spreadsheet. I thought ‘I can’t make any more progress in finance, I could be doing this for ten years’.
“In my current role, I am contributing and adding value to the organisation and people. I invest in people and develop them, which is really important to me. For example, all bar one of our supervisors were promoted internally from cleaning operatives.
“I try and do the right thing for people. And I never know what’s going to happen next. I’m much happier. I don’t regret the move at all.”
Adrian says the cleaning and hygiene industry offers a lot more in the way of training courses, qualifications and apprenticeships then it used to.
He said: “It is more professional. There are many opportunities to grow and progress your career. It is all there if you want it.
“My degree was the springboard to where I am today. The training I’ve done has really helped me.”