Every month, we share some highlights of what’s been happening in and around KBA.
This month, Jane Catterall celebrated her three-year work anniversary, Ria Milford has been running for charity, and our very own Fin Cottam was crowned “Light Heavyweight Champion” for Greater Manchester boxing.
Jane Catterall has been on the KBA team for 3 years
A member of our Client Support team, Jane supports our Mortgage Specialist in processing mortgage applications from the first stage to completion.
We caught up with Jane during a tea break to find out more about her three years with KBA…
How many positions have you held since joining the KBA team?
My role is Client Support and I deal mostly with the mortgage admin side of the business, but more recently I have been providing administration support for Wills and Trusts.
What were you doing before you joined the team?
Before I joined KBA I worked in Manchester in insurance for 32 years. During that time, I had various roles including Audio/Copy Typist, Personal Assistant and Admin/Customer Support, and later became a Commercial Underwriter.
Do you remember your KBA interview?
I do: I was very nervous and didn’t know what to expect as I had not had an interview for many years! Luckily, it was very informal – it went well, and I was offered the job.
What do you remember about your first day at KBA?
I should have started on 6 April 2020, but because of Covid my start date was delayed until June 2020.
On my first day, restrictions were still in place, so it was just me and Karen Fogg in the office and training was done through screen sharing.
What do you love most about your job?
I love being able to help people through the whole mortgage journey, to try to make it as stress-free as possible.
Customers are very grateful when everything goes through smoothly – especially first-time buyers when they buy their first home. We also have a lovely team at KBA – we really are like a big happy family.
Favourite memorable moment?
I don’t really have a favourite memorable moment. Everyone at KBA is lovely and we have some wonderful social events and team meetings, including meals out and other fun occasions.
It’s always nice when you receive a thank you from a client too. It was a particularly good day when I received a gorgeous bouquet of flowers from one of our happy clients.
Ria Milford completed a 10K “Race for Life” run in aid of Cancer Research
The KBA team often get involved in charity sporting events and, this month, Ria pulled on her best bounciest trainers to run 10K in the Race for Life and raise money for Cancer Research.
How long did you train for the race and what did that involve?
I have always been keen to get into running, but I have never run in a race before, so it was a challenge!
I started training consistently about eight weeks before the race, doing about five runs a week, and changing my diet slightly to keep me properly fuelled!
Did you wake up on the day feeling race prepared?
I woke feeling very nervous, but I knew that I had put a lot of my time into my training and was hoping to get a 10K PB (personal best) time, which I did!
How was the weather?
Unfortunately, the run fell on the hottest day so far this year. It was 28 degrees when I started the race at 10 am and about 31 degrees by the time I finished, so I was extremely hot and tired after it was done.
What was the hardest part of the run?
I think the hardest part of the run was probably the weather – I had never done a run in that kind of heat before, so it did slightly throw me off and push me to my limits. I was extremely proud of myself for sticking it out.
How long did it take you?
I completed the race in just under an hour, a PB time for me!
Highlight of the day?
Crossing the finish line and seeing my mum and dad support me – they supported me on the day and throughout the whole training experience.
How much did you raise, and can readers still sponsor you?
I’ve raised about £300 so far. All money raised goes to Cancer Research and you can still donate on the Race for Life website.
Do you plan to take on other physical challenges this year?
I have another 10K run booked for early September and am looking to take part in the Paris Half Marathon 2024!
I totally caught the running bug – the physical activity has made a massive difference to my mental health and wellbeing, it’s been incredible!
Fin Cottam is crowned “Light Heavyweight Champion”
The sporting achievements continue with Fin Cottam’s latest success in the boxing ring.
Fin’s love of boxing developed when he was just a boy. Last month, the hours he spends in training paid off when he was crowned Greater Manchester’s Light Heavyweight Champion.
Here, Fin shares his story about how he discovered the sport and the hours he spends in the gym and in the ring.
How old were you when you first started boxing?
I started boxing when I was 23. Since then, I’ve been obsessed with the sport and train every day.
What attracted you to the sport?
I always loved boxing and grew up watching fights on TV with my dad.
At the time I started boxing, I felt like I needed a new challenge. I wasn’t in a great place due to some personal issues I had going on at the time.
Boxing was something that I could do by myself. It was a helpful way to work through what I was feeling and gave me a new focus that I could put my time and energy into.
How long have you been competing at a professional level?
I had my first boxing fight only a few months into the beginning of my training – an opportunity came up and I threw myself at it. Since then, I have had a fight every few months or so.
So far, my fights have been semi-professional. After my recent win, and maintaining my unbeaten record, I’m exploring the possibility of getting my professional licence, which will allow me to compete on official professional events and hopefully fight on TV!
What does training involve?
I train every day.
Three to four times a week, I’ll be in the boxing gym with my coach and training partners working on skill and technique as well as physical and mental conditioning.
On top of this, I will also run once or twice a week – I’ll do sprints as well as long distance.
This makes up the main part of my training, but I also do swimming, and yoga for general fitness and health.
Saunas and ice baths are a big part of my recovery. Plus, I make sure to stick to a diet designed to fuel me for all the training – I consume lots of protein and carbs.
Sometimes the hardest part of training is turning down offers from friends to join them in the pub!
How many hours a week do you spend training?
When I’ve got a fight scheduled, I train for at least two hours every day and do a minimum of 14 hours a week.
At the moment, I haven’t any fights lined up, so I’m enjoying a less hectic training schedule for the time being.
I still train every day – for me training is my meditation and escape. So, although I’m not training for as long or as intensely as I would be in the run up to a fight, I always get my daily fix in!
What does your latest sporting achievement mean for you?
Boxing means a lot to me; it’s helped me change my life for the better and taught me very valuable lessons.
Each fight has got harder and required more training, more time, more stress, more injuries (broken rib and broken nose). But the feeling of improving and winning in front of a crowd is like nothing else – and makes all the sacrifice worth it!
I hope to take my boxing as far as possible and inspire others to do the same – to improve their lives through sport and fitness.
I think boxing can be a tool used for people to change their lives for the better, as I did.
Whether you want to be a professional boxer or just want to train for fitness and fun, boxing can help develop confidence, resilience, determination, positive self-talk, visualisation, discipline, and emotional control. It can also provide a sense of community and a place where people can help others work towards their goals.
