“I left school at 16 years old to commence a Hairdressing Apprenticeship where I had been previously working on a Saturday. During this time I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to gain experience on other aspects of running a business and on completion, I decided to pursue going to college to gain a qualification in Business and Accountancy.

During this time I developed a real passion for this and had a job opportunity in a local accountancy firm to work within the payroll department. For three years, I built up payroll skills, knowledge, and experience training members of staff, managing my own clients and progressed to become a senior within the firm. Whilst I was gaining lots of experience I also wanted to gain a qualification so I made the decision to self-fund a foundation degree in Payroll Management through the Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals.

I had seen the job at Hillcrest for a new Payroll Team Leader advertised and decided to apply following this. In June 2021 I successfully obtained the position. Although, I did not have previous experience managing staff, Hillcrest looked at other qualities and invested in the opportunity to train me through this experience. As I was approaching my final year of my degree, Hillcrest offered to financially support me through this and have been fully supportive and involved in me enhancing my learning. Since being at Hillcrest I have had lots of opportunities for development and have since been given the opportunity to Project Management a change in software for Payroll, HR and Learning and Development Team. Being a young person has never been a barrier in Hillcrest and I have never felt so valued, invested in and optimistic about the opportunities that my future holds.”

-Eilidh McFarlane, Payroll Team Leader, Hillcrest