Karen Munday — My Nuneaton Signs story
I started my journey at Nuneaton Signs way back in 2004. I used to work at a company next door but they were moving to the other side of Nuneaton and I couldn’t get there so had to leave my job.
I was speaking to one of the guys that worked here at Nuneaton Signs in passing and I said that I couldn’t move with the company as I was registered blind and couldn’t drive and he said that Nuneaton Signs was positive about disabled people and gave me an application form.
After having my interview cancelled numerous times I did eventually get to attend and was offered a position in stores and despatch. I had to speak to the DEA (Disability Employment Advisor) at the job centre and they arranged for me to come in on a workstep program so here my journey began.
I worked in stores for a while but unfortunately I hurt my back and had about 6 weeks off work which I was really upset about, I did offer my resignation as I felt I couldn’t do the job I was employed for but this was rejected and I was asked to move to a different department as the company didn’t want to lose me which made me feel really appreciated and valued.
My next role was in screen print as there was no heavy lifting, I had never done this before but was offered all the training and help I needed. In my first week I ripped 7 screens that had to be repaired but this still didn’t put them off me and I did manage to get it right and spent around 6 months working in that department.
The despatch supervisor retired and I wanted to go back to that department so after speaking with the general manager I was given the role of despatch supervisor and had a team of people under me, I was given a supervisor development course to complete which was very helpful and also completed Sign Making NVQ level 2.
I worked in the supervisor role for a few years which I thoroughly enjoyed, we then had a new production manager who didn’t like doing much paperwork so asked me to look after the purchasing of consumables and low value items which I did and found this role interesting.
The general manager at the time Sean Mackay left and a new MD was appointed, I was then offered the opportunity to move in to the offices and take on the role of buyer. This was really good for me as my eyesight had deteriorated over time so it was safer for me to be at a desk rather than walking around the factory all day.
Once again I was offered training courses and over time I completed my business admin level 1, 2 and 3. I spent around 10 years working as the company buyer which was amazing, I also had other roles as well as purchasing, one of them roles was working with the disabled employees as part of the Work Choice program, I would have monthly or quarterly meetings with each person and check that everything was ok with them or if they needed any help or support, I would also interview and offer people job roles within the company through the work choice program and to see the absolute joy on someone’s face when you say to them well would you like to come and work with us is beyond words. I was also in contact with the local special needs schools and would arrange with our production for children to come in to the factory on work experience, to see children come in on day one and not speak to anyone and by the end of the week they were confident enough to have a conversation with you was very rewarding.
Another part of my role was working in sales, I have done this since 2008 when we became Skanska’s approved sign supplier and I was asked to be admin for the account, over the years my admin role changed in to a sales role and over the last year Skanska became a joint venture with Costains and Strabag to form SCS HS2 and then Skanska infrastructure was taken over by Milestone and my sales work load increased and so it became to much for me to do all of these roles so I chose to move over to Sales as my full time job role.
My eyesight condition is called retinitis pigmentosa which is a loss of peripheral vision and also night blindness, this is a degenerative condition and over time my sight closes further and further in, The way I would explain it is it’s like looking down a toilet roll tube, I have a white stick that I have to use when out and about or if the light is dull. I manage to walk around the office without my stick as have been here that long I know by the steps I have taken as to where I need to turn.
I may go totally blind one day but at the minute I can still see so I make the most of it, I always look for a positive out of a negative.
I love my job and hope to spend many more years working here and being part of the Nuneaton Signs team.
