10 years of service

10 years of service

In the next chapter of our ongoing blog series, we hear from Samera Akhtar, Telephone Negotiator, who shares her experience of working for Credit Style over the past decade.

I joined Credit Style in 2011 and was instantly impressed by the company culture, support available and approach to work. Since moving to Sheffield from Ayr, Scotland, I had already begun working in the debt recovery industry, but I found roles to be purely focused on targets. This is of course an important aspect of debt recovery and there will always be an element of pressure in this respect, but Credit Style was notably different.

Rather than something to worry about, targets felt like something to aspire to and strive for. From day one, I was instilled with renewed confidence in my capabilities and now I truly believe you can accomplish anything you want to here, as long as you try your best and approach your job with the right mindset. My targets have grown and grown but I have always managed to reach them and fulfil my full potential. The attitude and ethos of Credit Style is designed to unlock potential and that has certainly been the case with me.

I have worked at businesses before that faced redundancies and uncertainty, so the stability that Credit Style has always maintained is very appealing. This was even more important over the past year when considering the coronavirus pandemic. I have been working from home, but the business has supported me however it can and my role and duties have remained clear. Of course, there has been the odd technical challenge, the same as everyone has faced at this unique time, but the main reason I am looking forward to getting back to the office is because I miss what a friendly and supportive environment it is.

More than a number

I have always felt my personal needs have been prioritised and that is one of the key reasons I have remained committed to Credit Style for such a long time. I like to be challenged and to be working against ambitious goals, but my 121 meetings and personal development plans have always considered me as a person as well as an employee. Credit Style supports its people and there is a good sociable atmosphere in general. Approachable and hard-working mindsets are clearly prevalent amongst the Directors and this is replicated throughout every level of the business.

Any problems I have faced have been accommodated and I have been encouraged to speak up if I need anything, including when flexibility around maternity and taking lunch-breaks at certain times has been required. This is really important and all contributes to a motivated and enthusiastic workforce. I love my role as a telephone negotiator and I have always worked in this capacity during my time here, honing my skills and advancing my career through training modules. I have had exposure to team management within the business and feel I have grown both as an employee and a person.

Accountability and trust

Our experienced team of professionals regularly help businesses recuperate funds, taking away a time-consuming but essential task so they may focus on their own business priorities. One of the key reasons we are able to do this so successfully is because each employee at Credit Style is given genuine ownership over the accounts they support. Escalation support is available whenever it is needed, but micro-management is never an issue. By being given the freedom to get on with the job and prioritise own workloads, I feel my expertise is respected and my knowledge of my clients is used to benefit all involved. I know that what I can achieve is firmly in my own hands I am not the only person who finds this motivating and rewarding.

Training is also very important for personal growth and this is something that Credit Style has excelled at in recent times. I have seen massive improvements as the years have progressed in the amount of training opportunities offered to ensure employees always feel at the forefront of their industry. Likewise, the systems we have at our disposal are regularly updated and adjusted to optimise productivity, efficiency and access.

I have thoroughly enjoyed the past 10 years and I am excited for what the future holds. My advice to anyone considering joining the business would be to think about what is important to you. You need to be driven and goal orientated, but if freedom to work your way and a  long-term, stable and supportive work environment sounds appealing, you should not hesitate to get in touch!

Samera Akhtar, Telephone Negotiator
Credit Style Limited