Welcome to the summer edition of the BlueSKY bulletin.
In this quarter’s update we welcome clients to our new office, introduce new additions to our staff (some more human than others), share some photos from our training day, and say a final farewell to a well-loved and newly retired member of our team.
First up this quarter, we have finally moved!
As detailed in our June bulletin, BlueSKY has grown significantly since our humble beginnings back in the late 1990s, from just three members of staff to the 15 that we have today.
We all have fond memories of our previous home at Chalfont Court, but it was becoming increasingly cramped. So, we decided to start looking for alternative commercial rental premises around 18 months ago.
After a few last-minute glitches (including not having internet), the move went smoothly, and we are now fully settled in our new location.
See below for some before and after photos of our new premises:
Clients who have already visited the new offices have given us very positive feedback, and we look forward to welcoming many more of you over the next few months.
Despite the obvious appeal (given the name) Rob and Jeremy would like to take this opportunity to quash the rumours that we are moving to a small beach hut in Southwold, Suffolk:
Jeremy took this picture on his recent trip back home to Suffolk.
While we love the décor, squeezing 15 people in there may have been a struggle!
Nick has had further exam success
Continuous improvement and learning are very important for us at BlueSKY, and Nick has recently passed his Discretionary Investment Management exam.
Congratulations Nick!
Nick is involved in the Bluesky Investment Committee, and the topics covered in this course will give him an even greater understanding of the subject matter.
Next on the agenda for Nick is the Securities Advice and Dealing exam to further cement his investment knowledge.
We have a few new additions to our staff
This month we have some new additions to our team. One is very much human, but the others…
We are delighted to welcome Jessica Marriott (Jess) to our Client Services team.
Jess already has three years of experience working within financial services in a similar role for a firm in Newbury.
In her spare time, Jess loves being outdoors in nature, going for long walks, and spending time with her family and friends.
She absolutely loves cats and has her own, Pickle.
We are excited to welcome Jess and look forward to having her as part of the BlueSKY team.
Jess’s love of cats and animals in general brings us nicely onto introducing our other recent additions.
One of the advantages of the new office location is its rural setting, giving us all a sense of peace and tranquillity, and it certainly brings us a few steps closer to nature.
If you look closely at the first picture below, you may spot a snake! We have also found the pet goats next door to be very adept at escaping from their paddock. And the local deer have shown a keen interest in their new neighbours!
We had another wonderful company training day
Every quarter, we close the office and have an off-site training day involving all staff.
We use the day to learn new skills, reflect on the previous quarter’s highs and lows, and discuss ways in which we can improve our service for our clients.
The day typically starts with an icebreaker activity. In our July meeting, we were split into teams and asked to navigate around Reading town centre, deciphering clues and questions about our local town.
Aside from the fun, these days are crucial in helping us to learn and grow as a business.
One of the things that we are most proud of at BlueSKY is our culture of openness and honesty. We see this come into effect in our training days as every staff member makes great contributions, their bright ideas and valuable insights foster a collaborative spirit and enable our continuous improvement.
It’s not all work, work, work at BlueSKY
Outside of the office, the BlueSKY team have had another busy quarter.
Ralph went to Marvellous Festival (he’s the one in the colourful shirt, not the Wookie!).
Immy enjoyed ‘Dancing in the Dark’ at the Bruce Springsteen gig at Wembley Stadium and has been playing with her mum’s new puppy, Maisie.
We’ve said goodbye to Jan and wish her a happy retirement
As mentioned in our last bulletin, Jan, our much-loved client relationship manager, retired at the end of June.
On her last day, Rob and Jeremy invited all the staff to Easthampstead Park for a lovely afternoon tea to celebrate Jan’s retirement.
So, we wish Jan a fond farewell and all the best in her retirement!
We hope you have enjoyed reading about what the BlueSKY staff have been up to during this quarter, and look out for our next update in December.
