At Kirklees College, we are taking the chance during our 200th anniversary year to highlight the impact of the staff who have shaped our college throughout our long history.
Working diligently behind the scenes to ensure the college’s finances are taken care of is the Finance Team, who between them have almost 200 years of service combined! Nine members of the team have worked at the college for over 20 years, and shared their reflections on their career at Kirklees College.
Sara Dearnley, Financial Performance Manager said:
“I started working at Kirklees College 31 years ago as a Finance Assistant on a Youth Training Scheme (YTS), and I’ve worked my way up to Financial Performance Manager—so you could say I’m homegrown!
The college has given me fantastic opportunities to progress, with training and roles not only in Finance, but also in Foundation Studies and the Training Partnership Unit.
People are often shocked when they hear I’ve worked here for so long, but I think it’s a real credit to the college. The best part of my time here has been the friendships I’ve made and the people I’ve met along the way. The Finance team has always felt like a family, with many of us working together for so long. The college has been part of my entire adult life, and I feel like I’ve grown alongside it. I’ve seen a lot of changes and been through a few restructures, but I’ve always felt secure and valued here.”
Payments Manager Joanne May, had a similar story to share about her progression journey at the college:
“I started at the college in 1994 as the Assistant Cashier, and over the past 31 years within the Finance team, I have worked my way up to become the Payments Manager of the Purchase Ledger team.
I am incredibly proud of my long service, and I cherish the many memories I’ve made working alongside some truly wonderful people. To me, we are more than just colleagues in the Finance team — we are good friends.
My entire adult life has unfolded while working at the college. During this time, I got married, had children, and watched them grow — all made easier by the college’s support in allowing me to work part-time and during school hours.
I always say that coming to work is not a chore. I’ve never experienced that Sunday night feeling of “oh no, I have to go to work tomorrow.” I genuinely couldn’t imagine working anywhere else, and I feel truly blessed to have had such a happy and fulfilling career here.”
Caroline Hookey, Sales Ledger Assistant echoed Joanne’s sentiments about the team:
“Working at the college has been like joining an extended family. My colleagues have grown alongside me and my own family, and over time, we’ve shared lots of work and personal milestones.”
Cheryl Whitehead, Income Manager, also praised the college’s progression opportunities, and reiterated her colleagues’ sentiments about the sense of community within the team:
“During my 20 years working at Kirklees College I’ve made some lifelong friends and created many happy memories. I began my career here as a sales ledger/purchase order processing assistant and have worked my way up to being Income Manager.”
If you would like to join our KC Community and embark on a new career journey with Kirklees College team, visit our Work With Us page to find our current vacancies.
Are you a former staff member or alumni of Kirklees College and have a story to share? Contact communications@kirkleescollege.ac.uk to find out how you can be involved in our 200 Years case studies and celebrations in 2025.
