Growing your career as your children grow: a case study

Advertorial

Many jobs are binary: either they are part time, or full time, freelance or employed. Not many offer the flexibility to shift between these structures as your home life changes and develops.

One such company that offers this, however, is Pitchup.com, Europe’s largest booking platform for camping and glamping, allowing working parents to thrive by growing their careers as their children grow.

How does this work?

Gillian Hare, UK Sales Mentor at Pitchup.com, explains how her career progressed and what flexible working has meant for her as a mother:

“For me it was important to know that despite wanting to work part-time initially, that there was room to grow. When my daughter went to secondary school I was able to increase my hours at Pitchup, I then had the opportunity to move to full-time employment a few years later when she became more independent. Shortly after I secured a promotion into the role I’m currently in and now I help to train other sales professionals.

“Working from home has also been a lifeline for me: no travel costs, more time spent with my daughter, able to do household chores efficiently, saving money on childcare and less stress generally! I’ve been able to be a ‘mum’ and spend quality time with my daughter that I wouldn’t have been able to achieve in a full-time role, but then been able to grow into a full-time role when I’ve felt ready.”

Gill adds some sage advice for working parents:

“I’d recommend any candidates clarify these points at interview – make sure the company is willing to offer you what you need. Without this flexibility I would have missed out on school plays, sports afternoons, award ceremonies, going along on school trips – special moments that I would have regretted not being a part of.”

Flexibility for different circumstances

Isabelle Le Floch, Sales Supervisor at Pitchup.com and fellow working Mum, agrees:

“I started working part-time as a contractor. Then, when my kids were growing up (teenagers), I asked to work full time, then to be employed rather than a contractor. Shortly after, when I had more time for work, I was promoted to manage the French sales team. The opportunity for this evolution was part of what drew me to the role.

“When I was working part-time, it was so easy to drop the kids at school, come back and log on, work part of the day, pick-up the kids from school, take them to their activities, do homework etc. I didn’t have to take a nanny as I could do all that myself.

“My son has Cystic Fibrosis so sometimes he had clinics at the hospital and this role allowed me to always be with him. At Pitchup, you can work and raise your kids at the same time and try to do your best for each.

“As your children grow, it is sometimes more restful to be at work with your colleagues and your site managers than at home with your kids! I love to be with them of course but it’s good to do something different, for yourself. I was able to grow my career as they started to need me less.”

Retaining top talent

Alex Russell, Head of Sales at Pitchup.com, said: “These two women represent some of our top sales talent. In allowing for this flexibility and adopting a remote-first approach, far before everyone started doing it during the pandemic, we have been able to attract these successful candidates.”

Pitchup is now made up of 60% women, with many of these employees working parents. They have implemented enhanced maternity benefits (up to 100% maternity pay for the first 16 weeks and 100% paternity pay for two weeks) as well as a menopause policy.

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