Area manager profile: Hannah Denman
I started my career as an intern at Heathrow Airport. I had an amazing experience and really enjoyed my placement, though I left Enterprise saying I had done marketing at university and therefore thought I should get a job in marketing.
Speaking to my friends about their placements on return to university, I realised that I wanted to be a manager and what an incredible opportunity I had with Enterprise.
Shortly after my return I was promoted to Assistant Manager and under a year I was promoted again to Branch Manager of Euston Station in Central London, where I opened the branch.
Having not worked in a home city or neighbourhood location prior to this role, this was a unique and very valuable experience. I learnt the ropes of running the business from the very basics of opening the office.
"Something I take great pride in is up-skilling our employees so we can continue our success"
My performance at Euston led to my promotion to the flagship store of Central London Hammersmith.
It was here where I learnt the importance of managing through your team to gain the success you need: and then I was promoted to Branch Manager back at Heathrow Airport, Europe’s flagship branch.
I spend two years at Heathrow Airport, my most challenging and rewarding two years, which ultimately gave me the performance to achieve a promotion to Area Manager in Kent.
I was promoted in January 2020. Within two months we were in lockdown, and everything changed overnight.
"I have faced many challenges through my career all of which have developed my resilience, and I would not have overcome those challenges without my support network and mentors"
After COVID I was able to build business back up and the success led to my promotion back to Heathrow again, this time as Area Manager. I have been in this role for three months and am super excited for the summer.
Being the Branch Manager of Heathrow Airport was the most challenging and rewarding two years of my career, so when the Heathrow Airport Area Manager position came out, I was both excited and apprehensive.
I felt I had the tools and knowledge from my previous role to steer Heathrow in the right direction. Three months into the role I can say: so far so good.
We have made some great traction and hit an all-time high in May. We have a lot still to work on and we are heading in the right direction: the future is looking bright.
Our biggest goal is to grow Heathrow, so we have had a huge surge in recruitment. Alongside our new starters, we have re-launched the Airport Leadership Programme. Something I take great pride in is up-skilling our employees so we can continue our success through the summer.
"At Enterprise we say that we work hard and reward hard work. My advice is to believe that this is a true statement, and that this company lives by its founding values"
My Dad taught me from a young age to work hard to create choices in life. I didn't understand what he meant when I was revising for my GCSEs or A levels and at University, but I do today.
At Enterprise we say that we work hard and reward hard work. My advice is to believe that this is a true statement, and that this company lives by its founding values.
Throughout my career I have always worked in very demanding and heavy transactional stores in Central London, Heathrow Airport, and rural Kent.
In all these locations I had a responsibility to impact the group and for my personal progression, which required a lot of hard work. I had the mentality that if I worked hard early in my career it would pay dividends later down the line and would open choices in my career and my personal life.
"Work life balance doesn't mean working 9-5 everyday it's about the bigger picture and what your career and future looks like"
We are working in a new climate where work life balance is a huge focus and hybrid working is becoming more appealing, however it isn't always what it seems.
Work life balance doesn't mean working 9-5 everyday it's about the bigger picture and what your career and future looks like.
We work hard and what we put into this company is what we get out of it. I have faced many challenges through my career all of which have developed my resilience, and I would not have overcome those challenges without my support network and mentors.
It is important to find your voice and share how you are feeling with your managers and team. Don't be afraid to admit you need help. Our manager's success is our performance success and your team's success is your performance success. Everyone must be pushing in the same direction to be successful.
You don't get in a car and let go of the wheel. You turn, you stop, you speed up, you change gear. All to get where you want to go. Live by that mentality and you’ll have a very successful career in a company that looks after their customers and employees first and foremost.
If you are interested in a career with Enterprise, please visit our recruitment website at careers.enterprise.co.uk
