My name is Debbie Grimshaw and I am Executive Assistant to Phil Jones, Managing Director of Brother UK, the Information, Communication and Technology Company.
During a 25-year career with the business, I have provided EA and PA support to the senior leadership team at Brother UK and Brother International Europe. In my current role, I manage the complex and demanding diary of Phil Jones, one of the North West’s prominent business leaders.
Alongside my day-to-day duties, I also have a leading role in Brother UK’s corporate responsibility and community engagement projects. These include a role in a Year 10 student mentoring programme at Copley Academy in Tameside and involvement with the Hallé Impresarios Project, a scheme which introduces students at Denton Community College, near Manchester, to classical music and how to run a business.
I continually invest in my own personal development and expand my horizons by flexing myself in all areas of the business to ensure I have a thorough knowledge of the organisation, including the induction of new people. This gives me an insight of how it feels to be new to the business and allows me to demonstrate our company values.
I am an active member of the Manchester PA Network and the CityCo PA Network as I love to promote our profession. I also encourage colleagues to attend, to grow their network and confidence.
My attendance of Office Show is a key event in my diary each year and in 2014 I was proud to be announced as a runner-up in the PA Contributor of the Year award on National PA Day.
My passion to promote the role drives me to coach and mentor key colleagues in my peer group, creating a strong sense of togetherness amongst the team. I share best practice and strive to be the best possible role model I can be. Recently I acquired an assistant who came to us as an apprentice. Sharing all my experience and knowledge with her and watching her grow has brought great mutual benefit.
Outside of work, I volunteer as Charity Secretary for the Convoy of Happiness Children’s Charity, which provides day trips to sick, disabled and terminally ill children and their families. I also manage the charity’s social media channels.
I have two daughters, two dogs and I live in Tameside.