Every month, we share some highlights of what’s been happening in and around KBA.
Some great start-of-year achievements this month. Sarah Hogan has received another award nomination and needs your vote, Sara Malheiro has commenced her master’s degree, and meet Claire Sherlock, Sarah Hogan’s Executive Assistant, as she celebrates her recent engagement.
Plus, congratulations are in order for Jack Leatherland and Hannah Needham, who have both been on the KBA team for three years! 🎉
Vote for Sarah Hogan and help her win the Bolton Women in Business Award
Our Company Director and Chartered Financial Planner loves a winning streak and has recently been nominated for the Bolton Women in Business Awards.
This is yet another recognition of Sarah’s dedication, expertise, and leadership, and we couldn’t be prouder.
We’re not 100% sure who put her name forward, but whoever you are, we’d like to say a massive thank you – your support means the world to us.
Voting is now open to the public, so please take 30 seconds to cast your vote for Sarah Hogan here – simply click the link and submit her name.
Thank you for your support… ❤️
Sara Malheiro started her master’s degree in Project Management
In January, Sara Malheiro went back to school to start her master’s degree in Project Management.
Financially supported by KBA The Financial Planning Company, we made a big pot of tea, hid her books for 15 minutes, and persuaded her to sit down and share all the news…
How does it feel to be going “back to school,” and how are you managing to juggle your responsibilities with learning?
Going back to school is both terrifying and exciting. It’s a bit like riding a rollercoaster you willingly queued up for but are now questioning your life choices.
I love learning, but adapting to a new routine takes time, so I’m putting my time management skills to the ultimate test to keep everything balanced.
What did you study at university the first time around?
I studied Business Management with a focus on retail and marketing.
How long will the course take, and what does it involve?
It’s a two-year, part-time course in Project Management, so plenty of planning, deadlines, and, of course, last-minute cramming (because some habits never change!).
How has KBA supported you with your studies, and how has it helped?
KBA has been incredibly supportive giving me the opportunity to expand my knowledge and take on this new academic adventure. Plus, the encouragement from the team has been a real motivation boost (even on the days when my brain feels like it’s buffering!).
How’s it going so far, and what are you looking forward to learning?
I’ve just completed my first introductory session on “project planning and control”, and another module this term is “delivering successful projects”, which I’m really excited to dive into.
And, more importantly, have you been stationery shopping?
Oh, 100% yes! I’m obsessed with stationery, especially notebooks and pens because let’s be honest, nothing says “I’m ready to study” like a fresh notebook you’re too scared to actually write in.
Looking into the future, how will the master’s degree influence your career options?
This course will broaden my expertise and open doors for new opportunities both within KBA and in the business world. Basically, I’m levelling up my skills ready to take on whatever comes next!
Meet Claire Sherlock, Sarah’s new(ish) Executive Assistant
Claire Sherlock joined the team as Sarah Hogan’s Executive Assistant in September 2024.
Having been on the team for almost four months already, it’s finally time for you to meet Claire, and get all the juicy details about her recent engagement… 💍
What is your background, what were you doing before you joined KBA?
For the last nine years before joining KBA, I worked for a Wi-Fi startup company, getting involved with all manner of jobs over the years, customer service, tech support, and eventually, marketing and events.
What attracted you to KBA The Financial Planning Company?
After working from home for a few years in my previous job I had the urge to make a change, try something new, and get back into a bustling office environment again.
I saw the job advert online and the role really appealed to me. It sounded like something I’d enjoy and would be good at. An additional plus is the fact that the office is a 10-minute walk from my house, so I sent off a CV and the rest is history.
The KBA team are great and part of the reason I enjoy working at here.
Can you tell us a bit about your role?
No two days are the same, that’s for sure!
My day-to-day life includes calling our lovely clients and booking them in for appointments. And making sure Sarah has everything she needs for meetings, booking travel, hotels, client dinners, taking notes, and making sure tasks are completed by the team.
Best thing about a day in the office?
Am I allowed to say the Chinese street food stall at lunch? I don’t allow myself to go every day, maybe once a week as a treat – the salt and pepper chicken is a favourite of the Leigh office staff.
Otherwise, I’d say the best thing is learning something new every day.
I’m new to the financial services sector so it’s been really interesting learning about how everything works in more detail. Investments, pensions, wills, mortgages – I’m always picking up new fascinating bits of knowledge.
Ooh! Congratulations on your engagement – who’s the lucky person and how did you meet?
Thank you! My fiancé is Jason, we met about seven years ago at a friend’s birthday party. Very cliché!
Who popped the question and how did it go down?
Well, it wasn’t a total surprise… We discussed it over Christmas but I didn’t know when a ring would appear.
It came on a random Tuesday night after work. I got home to lit candles, a very sheepish Jay, who told me to shake the cat treat bag, which I did. Milo, our cat came running, with a ring tied around his neck. It was super cute.
Then, Jay got down on one knee.
When do you hope to tie the knot and what are you looking forward to the most?
Hopefully we’ll get married at some point this year, but we’ve told people not to expect a wedding invite – we plan to book a holiday abroad and elope with a long honeymoon. A no-fuss wedding!
