Coffee Break Q&A: Helen Herrington

On this month’s Coffee Break Q&A, we welcome Business Development Consultant Helen Herrington! Having joined the Mauve Family over 15 years ago, Helen remains one of our longest-standing members of the team.

After working as a Global Account Manager for many years, Helen recently joined the Business Development team sourcing new clients and expanding our global network.

We spoke with Helen to discuss more about her new job role, the biggest challenge she had to overcome in her career, and her favourite memories from 2021.

1. Tell us about yourself and your role at Mauve Group.

Up until recently I was an Account Manager, which entailed looking after my accounts from the initial meeting to placing workers in countries where the client had no entity. I have recently moved over to Business Development. This includes finding new clients, building a relationship with them, and once established, passing them over to an Account Manager who will develop the relationship even further. 

2. What is your favourite part about working at Mauve?

Mauve is a very family orientated company; the CEO Ann really cares about the wellbeing of her staff. All staff members feel more like friends than work colleagues regardless of where they are located. Once we can travel again, I will look forward to going out to Dubai, Cyprus and other places to meet with my work friends. 

3. What is the biggest challenge you have had to overcome in your career?

When we first started providing Employer of Record solutions, I was terrified as I felt it was so complicated and I would never get the hang of it. Then all of a sudden, I had a “light bulb” moment and realised I could do it as well as understand it. That feeling was so good. 

4. What were you doing/where were you working prior to starting at Mauve?

I had worked in hospitality for 30+ years working my way up to Restaurant Manager, managing a team of 18 waiting staff in a local Gastropub. 

5. If you had to choose another profession, what would it be and why?

I always wanted to be a midwife as I feel that bringing a baby into the world must be the most amazing, satisfying experience ever. Unfortunately, at the age of 20, I discovered a fear of blood so that put paid to any nursing career I might have had. 

6. What is one of your favourite memories from 2021?

Getting the keys for our static caravan on the East coast of Yorkshire. I call it my happy place. 

7. If you had to choose one age to be permanently, which age would you choose and why?

45, I was young enough to have fun and old enough to know when to behave (or maybe not!). 

8. What would we most likely find you doing on the weekend?

At our caravan on the coast, walking our two westies on the beach and catching up on Netflix.

 9. What is one thing most people don’t know about you?

I am very good at general knowledge and can often match or even beat the chasers on ITV’s the Chase.

 10. What advice would you give to your teenage self?

Pay attention at school, get the best education possible and always wear factor 50 on your face.

Thank you to Helen for joining us on this month’s Coffee Break Q&A! For more updates on our Coffee Break Q&As, follow Mauve Group on Twitter and LinkedIn.

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