Meet our team! Say hello to Natasha Harvey

Caroline – Senior Marketing Creative at Cranstons recently had a chat with Natasha Harvey.

Natasha joined Cranstons in 2021 and works in our central Penrith office as a Business Administration Apprentice.

C: Hi Tash! It’s been a long time since I did my last ‘meet the team’ interview, a little thing called Christmas got in the way. It’s great to be talking to you about your role. 

Let’s start with an easy one- can you describe your job in three words?

N: Hi Caroline – thank you for featuring me!

That’s a tough first question – let me think!  My words would be:  Finance, Challenging (in a good way!) and collaborative!

C: Great! What department do you work in?

N: Purchase ledger and accounts. My official title is Business Administrator Apprentice J

C: Can you tell me a bit about the apprenticeship you are doing?

N: I have almost finished a Level 3 in Business Administration; my training provider is North Lancs Training Group (NLTG).  Sarah Thompson, Senior Finance is my mentor here at Cranstons. The apprenticeship is 18 months long and involves both face-to-face training and team’s video training. As part of the apprenticeship, I had to complete 544 hours of off the job training. I try to dedicate about 8 hours a week to my apprenticeship.

For me, enrolling in an apprenticeship was more attractive than going to University because you earn while you learn the job. I like the fact that this apprenticeship is ‘in house’ so I don’t have to go to college and sit in a classroom. Everything is done from my desk within my working hours and best of all my apprenticeship is fully funded so I don’t have to worry about student loans.

I see my apprenticeship as a great initial foundation from which I can then specialize. Picking the right course was important, as I really wanted something I could progress in. This is just the start for my career in finance.

C: Wow! It sounds great – what a great way to work and learn at the same time. What do you like most about your job?

N: I love the people I work with! I was nervous about coming into an unknown environment with limited experience but the whole team have been supportive. It is a very caring environment and I couldn’t ask for a better mentor than Sarah who really knows her stuff!

C:What does a typical day look like for you? 

N: Working in a retail business is exciting as it’s fast paced and work plans can change but on a typical day I’d start by pulling off reports. I manipulate the data for Cranstons online delivery shop, providing our butchery team with picking lists.  Once the reports are done I will work on processing invoices for the goods we buy in for the rest of the morning. In the afternoon I tend to concentrate on project work or on my apprenticeship work. I’ve recently been re-costing Cranstons sandwich and baguette range which has been really interesting, it’s scary how much all the ingredients have increased in the last few months.

C: How would you pitch Cranstons to a friend?

N: Very friendly, LOTS OF LOVELY PEOPLE – yummy and authentic food.

C: What’s something you find challenging about your work?

N: When I am learning something new I just want to get it right straight away. I have learnt that is its ok to build your knowledge up. Here I am encouraged to watch someone else complete a task, then to do it with support then only when I feel confident would I be asked to do it independently,

C: Who do you look up to within the company?

N: Mary Craig who works in our Purchase Ledger department. I love the fact she does so much for others out of work, during COVID she did a huge amount of baking for Cumbrian Food Hall staff room to keep the team’s spirits up. She is a lovely person to work alongside.

C: What motivates you at work?

N: Deadlines (nervous giggle)! And seeing the result of the work I’ve done.

C:What are your long-term aspirations ?

N: I want to progress further, I’d love to progress and be part of the senior management team– that would be my ultimate goal.

C: If you could pick up a new skill in an instant, what would it be?

N: To sing or play an instrument! I absolutely love all types of music.

C: Who would you most swap places with for a day?

N: A Royal Family member. I’d love to see what actually goes on behind all the tabloid stories!

C: What show are you currently binge watching?

N: I love reality shows and a bit of drama. At the moment I have been watching RuPaul’s Drag Race UK.

C:If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

N: Chips, cheese and gravy. Classic.

C: One Cranstons meal?

N: Ohhh I love the sausage rolls!

C: What is your biggest dream?

N: To be successful. Have a nice family and a house in the countryside.

C:What is your idea of a perfect day?

N: Go out for brunch, go clothes shopping, get lots of snacks in and watch Netflix. I love chilled days like this!