I was born on Bonfire Night in 1974, and 50 years later, on Bonfire Night 2024, I handed in my resignation at BPEC. Some people celebrate their 50th by buying a sports car or booking a cruise — I chose to light the fuse on a new chapter.
That decision didn't come easily. The weeks leading up to it were filled with sleepless nights, weighing up the safe comfort of a steady salary and a role I enjoyed against the pull of building something of my own. In the end, the bigger risk felt like standing still.
Fast forward to 30 April 2025 — my final day at BPEC. After a decade with the organisation, I walked out for the last time as Head of Operations & Development. There were mixed emotions: pride in what I'd helped to build, gratitude for the people I'd worked alongside, but also the nerves that come with stepping into the unknown.
My journey with BPEC started back in 2015 as Development Manager, where I played a part in launching the End-point Assessment Organisation. In 2019 I moved into the Head of Operations & Development role, a position that gave me the chance to help shape services that regularly punched above their weight in the industry. Looking back, I'm proud that people often assumed BPEC was a much bigger organisation than it really is — proof of the impact we made as a small, dedicated team.
My final weeks were a blur of handovers, farewells, and reflection. We celebrated with a team get-together, food, and some very kind words. It was a reminder of how far we'd come together. But as the goodbyes wrapped up and the door closed behind me, I knew the real test was only just beginning.