Meet the Making the Difference Award Winners: Ashley Dawson

As we reflect on the 2024 Making the Difference Awards, Vertas Group is delighted to highlight the outstanding achievements of last year’s winners.

As we look ahead to the next Making the Difference Awards, we’re taking a moment to celebrate some of the incredible individuals who were recognised last year for the impact they’ve made across the Group.

Our annual Awards provide an opportunity to thank our colleagues who go the extra mile and truly make a difference to the people around them.

We recently caught up with Ashley Dawson, Finance Business Partner, Vertas Group, who was named Specialist of the Year at last year’s awards. It is Ashley’s thoughtful, down-to-earth approach and genuine care for the teams she supports that have left a lasting impression. Regardless of the task in hand, she brings integrity, agility, and partnership, championing the Vertas Group Values, and it hasn’t gone unnoticed.

You won Specialist of the Year at the Vertas Group’s Making the Difference Awards, which is an incredible accomplishment. How did you react when you heard the news?

When I opened the letter and read what my colleagues had written, I was so touched that I had made so much difference to them and that they really valued how I supported them in delivering their services.

It made me feel proud that my work had been recognised by my peers and colleagues.

Please tell us about your role. What do you particularly enjoy about working in your service area?

I work as a Finance Business Partner, and our role is to not only help produce the monthly results, but to work with operations teams from the Director level down to the site level. We help them to deliver the best service possible by supporting them with costings, budgets, and processes.

Sometimes, the only thing that is needed is a friendly face so they can talk through things and make sure they are on the right track. I see myself as not only a member of the Finance team but also part of each Operations team I support.

In your role, do you feel the company values (Sustainable, Consistent, Integrity, Partner, Agility) align with your approach to work? How has this influenced your mindset at work?

The Vertas values are very much in line with our financial professional body values, whether that is CIMA, ACCA, or AAT. We all hold ourselves to values like Integrity and consistency.

My role very much follows the values of partnering and agility, we really are there to support our colleagues and adapt as needed.

Vertas Group strive to create a positive and productive work environment. How do the MTD awards contribute to this?

The awards are a chance for colleagues who we wouldn’t otherwise meet in our day-to-day work to be recognised. I love seeing our front-line staff recognised, and it really is a lovely event.

How does Vertas Group invest in your learning and development? Are there specific initiatives or resources you have found particularly beneficial? (Vertas Finest, Aspire2Inspire, Mentoring, etc.).

I have been part of development initiatives in the past, and I found them rewarding and useful. I have seen many younger colleagues in the finance team use the learning and development available to them to achieve professional qualifications, which is fantastic.

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