Interview - SBF Employee (Laura Hodgson)

Every month we literally put one of our employees under the spotlight and ask them a series of professional, and personal, questions. This month, it's Laura Hodgson.

How old are you?
28

What's your professional background?
Whilst completing a Business Management degree at Nottingham Business School I worked as a Management Trainee at LTSB Retail Banking Group where I undertook a number of managerial roles within the Branch Network.

After graduating in 2005 I decided to ‘jack it all in’ and travelled to Canada where I spent 7 months working and travelling. In May 2006 I decided to return to the UK and face reality and shortly after began my career in Invoice Finance with RBS Invoice Finance. I progressed from an Assistant Relationship Manager to a Portfolio Manager before leaving to join the Independent Invoice Finance Arena in January 2009 when I joined Skipton Business Finance Ltd as a Relationship Manager.

What do you do at SBF?
Relationship Manager

What are your primary responsibilities?
Looking after the needs of a portfolio of small to medium sized businesses - generally finding the right balance between risk, relationship and reward (not always easy!)

What’s the best thing about your job?
The job is pretty varied – I get to meet numerous different people and work with many different business types meaning no day is the same as the last.

What was your childhood ambition?
To be a vet (until I realised you had to be good at Science!!)

What are your hobbies?
CV/interview answer: “playing rounders for a local team, visiting the gym, cooking, voluntary work and travelling.”

In reality: “socialising, gigs, music festivals, travelling, cooking, voluntary work, eating out, drinking, the occasional trip to the gym or game of rounders!”

Favourite film?
Forrest Gump

Favourite ice cream?
Pistachio

Favourite band / artist?
Couldn’t possibly pick just one - U2, James, Vampire Weekend, The Vaccines, M People, REM, Kings of Leon… to name just a few!

Favourite food?
It would be easier to name my least favourite – tomatoes! I am a real food lover and love to explore different cuisines!

Favourite colour?
Blue

Favourite cartoon?
The Simpsons

Favourite sitcom?
Royle Family

You wouldn’t know it by looking at me but...
My dad was an Olympic Swimmer and can fit 2 grapes in my mouth at once.