Every month, we share some highlights of what’s been happening in and around KBA.
This month, Ria Milford is promoted to Team Leader and Deborah Taylor and David Parkinson celebrated their work anniversaries. Meanwhile, Garry Lomon hit the big time as he and his band rocked the stage at Etihad Stadium…
Ria Milford has been promoted to Team Leader
Joining KBA in May 2022, Ria Milford threw herself into her role as a Customer Consultant with such gusto that she’s now been promoted to Team Leader at our Southport YBS agency*. Here, Ria tells us more about her role and what she’s looking forward to in 2023…
Can you tell us about your previous role and how your responsibilities have changed during your time with KBA?
I joined KBA back in May as a part-time Customer Consultant. As time went on, I realised how much I enjoyed the role and requested to be put on full-time hours. I began to take on more responsibility, learn new things and this made me realise how much I wanted to progress.
What excites you most about taking on this new role?
I am most excited about supporting my team and learning more about the financial planning side of the business. I look forward to making a positive impact on the agency and leading us towards success.
What do you think might be your biggest challenge?
In every role similar to this you will always have challenges: deadlines to meet and different pressures to face. However, I know that I have the skill set to handle them and I do enjoy a challenge from time to time.
What are you looking forward to in 2023?
2023 is a new year and a fresh start. I’ve started my new job and I am just genuinely looking forward to what the future holds – progressing my career, expanding my knowledge, and supporting my team.
In my personal life, I hope to squeeze a few holidays in!
If you could offer one piece of advice to someone looking to work with KBA or in the financial services industry, what would it be?
Take that leap. Be confident – if something feels right you should go for it.
Working for KBA has inspired me to be where I am now and progress in such a short space of time and I couldn’t be more grateful!
David Parkinson celebrates 22 years with KBA
Having been a brilliant member of the team for more than two decades, David shares the story behind how he first joined the team and tells us what he’s excited about for 2023.
How did you end up working with KBA?
I met Ken Bates, the founding father of KBA, at the Bolton office of Allied Dunbar where both our practises were based. I agreed to absorb my practise with his when my business partner decided to retire.
How has your job changed over the years?
My job roles have changed to meet the needs of the business over the years. I have been full a Financial Planning Consultant, then a Mortgage Specialist, and now I am a full Financial Planning Consultant again.
What’s been the most significant change during your time with KBA?
Without a doubt it is the way Sarah has taken the business forwards and upwards.
What do you consider your biggest professional achievement?
To be honest, it has to be surviving in this industry with all the changes to qualifications, legislation, and of course certain economic crashes along the way.
I think that all the businesses that have survived and the industry as a whole is better for the changes and vast improvements introduced in 2012.
What advice would you give to someone looking to work with KBA or in the financial services industry?
Financial services is a difficult profession to work in, however the support at KBA is second to none – whether you are new to the industry or experienced.
If you fit into the culture and you put the hours in, you will be sure to succeed, but it takes time.
What are you looking forward to in 2023?
Facing the challenges of the business plan from a professional point of view.
But what I really enjoy is meeting new clients and helping them achieve their financial goals as well as looking after my loyal existing clients.
Holidays are an important part of my year, as is following Manchester City.
Also, I will continue to donate every month to our Openwork Foundation charity, which aims to support people less fortunate than us in the community, especially those sleeping rough.
Deborah Taylor celebrates her work anniversary
Can you tell us about your role with KBA?
My role is to carry out the ongoing servicing for our clients, whether that be processing withdrawals, fund switches, setting up regular payments or all of the above.
What’s one thing you wish you knew before you started working here?
Probably how easy it is to spend all of your salary in the shops at lunch time!
If you could offer one piece of advice to someone looking to work with KBA or in the financial services industry, what would it be?
It is hard work but being able to help a client achieve their financial goals is such a fantastic feeling and getting to do it with such a great team by my side is priceless.
What are you looking forward to in 2023?
Getting fit and healthy.
Garry Lomon and his band took the stage at the Etihad Stadium
Garry and his band – BandAge – put on a free show for elderly people in the community at Etihad Stadium. Here Garry sheds light on how the band came to be, how they came up with their name, and how they ended up playing at Etihad Stadium in December.
How long have you been playing with BandAge and what’s your role?
I have been a part of BandAge for just over two years now. I’m the drummer.
What’s the story behind your brilliant band name?
Everyone was throwing ideas around on different options for band names. We agreed that we wanted it to be a name that could have two meanings (like the Beatles!). So we sat, contemplated, and decided that we were a band and we were all approaching a certain age, so, what better name than BandAge?
What kind of music do you play?
Rock and Pop.
How did you end up playing at Etihad Stadium?
Our singer works at Etihad as a Tour Guide. He’d invited some of his colleagues to an earlier gig and they recommended us to City in the Community. We did the gig for free as a gift to their more elderly clients as something special to enjoy over the festive period.
60 people – all clients of City in the Community – came along and they were a really great crowd.
Where can we hear you play, and do you take private bookings?
We play for many social clubs and do private/charity events – watch this space for more BandAge events coming in 2023! Check out our website to find out more.
* The Yorkshire Building Society Agency services promoted here are not part of The Openwork Partnership offering and are offered in our own right. The Openwork Partnership accepts no responsibility for this aspect of our business.
