The Post: General Manager, Carrickfergus Enterprise
The Post Holder: Kelli McRoberts
Good communication skills are essential in Kelli McRoberts’s role as General Manager in a social enterprise agency.
Give a brief outline of your career to date.
I’ve spent the last 25 years working in the enterprise sector, having begun my career as a Business Development Executive, before taking up a role with Carrickfergus Enterprise as a Business Development Officer in 1998.
In 2002, I was promoted to General Manager and over 20 years later, I still love working in the most fantastic place.
What was your favourite subject at school?
Business Studies. I picked it for GCSE and it became a real passion.
Did you go on to further/higher education, if so, what did you study and where?
Academia wasn’t for me, so I pursued a vocational qualification. I decided to undertake a three-year HND in Business Studies at Ulster University and took the opportunity to complete summer school and go straight into my final year of BA Hons Business Studies, graduating with a 2:1.
How did you get into your area of work?
I found interviewing tough upon graduation and someone recommended the Premiere Graduate Management Programme. This was a real turning point and gave me an insight into all aspects of business, along with the opportunity to complete an international placement.
I spent several weeks working for a Venture Capitalist in La Jolla, San Diego which gave me the confidence to take my first step onto the career ladder when I returned.
Is this what you always wanted to do?
No, when I was younger, I loved shows like Changing Rooms and wanted to be an interior designer!
Were there any particular essential qualifications or experience needed?
I needed a business-related degree or relevant experience. At the time of application, I didn’t have any experience, so it was the degree as well as my international placement which helped secure the job.
Are there alternative routes to the job?
In the enterprise sector, interpersonal skills are as important as qualifications, so consider the personal attributes that you can bring to the job. Most employers now look for a combination of a third level qualification or related experience and excellent soft skills.
What are the main personal skills your job requires?
I love to talk, and this really helps to motivate and put clients at ease. Good communication skills are critical, and you need to be well organised as every day is different, with multiple projects underway at any given time.
Our team at Carrickfergus Enterprise all bring different skills and expertise to the table, so the ability to effectively lead and motivate is important.
What does a typical day entail?
It begins with dropping one of my two children at school. I’ll then drive to work, grab a coffee and check my daily ‘to do’ list. There’s no such thing as a typical day, I could be planning an event or dealing with queries.
Some days, I’m on the road in my capacity as Facilitator of Causeway Coastal Route or meeting enterprising women at our Coffee and Networking Event. I find the role as challenging and rewarding now as it was over 20 years ago.
What are the best and most challenging aspects of the job?
The best is seeing people succeed. Over the last 24 years, I’ve supported many potential entrepreneurs and others to grow their businesses. I have worked through a recession, Covid and now the cost-of-living crisis and have helped many businesses by listening and signposting them to support services.
Carrickfergus Enterprise was established 40 years ago to address job losses and we are still doing so today. I love it when clients come back to see me after several years and are still in business. The most challenging aspect, particularly with a young family, is finding a good work/life balance. I break down daily tasks and approach each one as a goal, so I don’t get overwhelmed.
Why is what you do important?
Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, with 89 per cent employing less than 10 people. Self-employment is not an obvious option for many, and entrepreneurship isn’t widely seen as a viable option.
At Carrickfergus Enterprise, we provide space for new businesses to develop and as one of the oldest local enterprise agencies in Northern Ireland we are serious about helping small businesses to succeed.
We provide a range of facilities for this, from workshops to our new Connect office space. We also develop practical solutions for businesses by offering advice, networking opportunities and skills enhancement at all stages of their journey. This gives them the support, guidance and encouragement to keep developing.
How has Covid-19 impacted your business/role?
By utilising government support and communicating with our clients, we were able to work throughout the lockdown period, using video-conferencing technology to stay connected.
I was providing mentoring support to many businesses in Carrickfergus at the time and hearing their despair was incredibly difficult.
What adjustments have you had to make?
The format of meetings has changed. Zoom eliminates travel time, however, I find that some events, like group discussions or networking are most effective when held in person.
What advice would you give anyone looking to follow a similar career path?
Enterprise is a rewarding and interesting career path, but not an obvious one! I would recommend finding a role that interests and challenges you.
Look at your transferrable skills or areas of expertise you can bring to the job. For example, I specialised in finance during my degree and this has really helped me to understand financial models for small businesses, like cash-flow forecasts and management accounts.
If you weren’t doing this, what would you like to do?
Helping so many businesses over the years has given me a taste for running my own. I would love to own a really unique gift shop – perhaps that will be my retirement plan.
What is the one piece of advice you would give to yourself on your first day?
Don’t consider the big picture all at once – take each day as it comes. After 20 years in the role, I know that we can’t be all things to all people, and we cannot possibly be expected to know everything from the onset.
Also, always be open to learning. I managed my largest project to date during Covid, a £1.7million employability programme and have been able to bring learnings from that into other, smaller projects.
Describe your ideal day off.
My two children are now teenagers, so I have a little more time to myself. My job is so full on during the week that I like to just switch off at the weekends. My husband Steven and I enjoy trying out new restaurants or discovering a great Netflix series.
And finally, what’s the key to any successful job search?
As an employer, I see the job search from the other side. I suggest tailoring your CV for the job you’re applying for and really selling yourself at all stages of your application.
As well as matching the job spec you need to have likeability. Be genuinely enthusiastic and back your experience up with real life examples that prove you have the right skills.
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