Vicky Mears joined the British Business Bank earlier this year. Her role as º£½ÇÊÓƵ network director covers the North of England and Midlands. In her role, she oversees the º£½ÇÊÓƵ Network in these regions, working closely with smaller businesses to understand their finance needs and advising the wider British Business Bank network on what support is needed. Ms Mears also works closely with the senior managers of the network, who manage the individual regions and have feet on the ground within the smaller business community.
What was your first job (and how much did it pay)? My first job while I was at school was working at Lumley Castle Hotel as a waitress, earning £1.80 per hour - showing my age there! My first full time job after university was with Maiden Outdoor Advertising in Birmingham.
What is the best advice or support you’ve been given in business? Never give up, believe in yourself and aim for the stars. Also to pay it forward and support the younger generation in their career journeys.
What are the main changes you’ve seen in your business/sector, and what are the challenges? How to signpost and access funding and support. After working directly with SMEs for the last five years, it is a main priority for me to ensure we continue to support this in my new role.
How has the pandemic changed the way you work? It proves hybrid working can be successful and supports an excellent work-life balance. With the support of technology, the pandemic has given greater flexibility to the way I work.
Who is your role model in business? Steven Bartlett. Not only for his successful global marketing career but mainly for the Diary of a CEO podcasts, which covers some truly incredible business topics that we can all relate to and learn from. I particularly love his recent book - if you haven’t read, it is worth a read!
What would your dream job be? It sounds corny, but the job I’ve recently started at the British Business Bank. I feel the role is very purposeful and I can use my knowledge and experience from working for two of the Big Four banks over the last 25 years. I can use this experience to really make a difference to smaller businesses.
What advice would you give to someone starting a career in your sector? Ensure you have the right network around you. Find a good mentor and always be open to learning and stepping outside your comfort zone.
What makes the North East a good place to do business? Being from the North East myself, I am incredibly passionate about our region. I am very biased, but we have incredible businesses and people in our region. We have so much opportunity to grow and investment is key to this. We need to show that the North East is a great place to do business, whether this is through new business startups or the growth of existing businesses in our region.
How important is it for business to play a role in society? SMEs are the backbone of our economy and play a pivotal role in society. Local businesses employ local people, helping communities and supporting the growth of the wider economy.
Outside of work, what are you really good at? I love to swim - I wouldn’t say that I’m really good at it, but I enjoy it to relax in my spare time.
