30Under30 Honouree: Ames Holmes
Great to hear from our 2023 Global 30-under30 honouree, Ames Holmes who is Call Centre Manager at Prevision Research. From starting as a call centre interviewer at the age of 18, now runs the unit and a team of over 40 interviewers both on site and remote, conducting CATI, CAWI and online research. A phenomenal individual with a much wider set of charitable vocations, who managed to find time to chat with us.
How did you get into the industry?
My mum, Judith Holmes, used to be the call centre manager of Prevision and at the age of 18 I was very career driven and wanted to earn extra money. I ended up applying for a job role as an ‘Ad Hoc Telephone Market Research Interviewer’ and started as an interviewer in 2013, often offering to start my shift earlier to help out with meeting deadlines and targets requested by clients. By day I was a 1:1 SEN Teaching Assistant, by night I was a ‘Market Research Telephone Interviewer’. Each evening I would conduct at least 8 successful B2B interviews with different trades people, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that my strike rate was far exceeding targets expected for a beginner.
What are you most proud of from your career so far?
I have been fortunate enough to have a embraced several vocational and career building opportunities. When I was a Teaching Assistant I was able to gain a qualification of ‘Unified English Braille’, learning to read and write in Braille to assist two children that needed extra support with their learning.
In 2018, I was a ‘High Five Netball Coach’ in a primary school, and was able to get my team to County games. They had to play against 8 teams in the first round, where we came 1st, then the second round was playing against those teams that managed to get through to the semi-finals, playing 10 teams and achieving 2nd place, then finally going to County games on the hottest day of the year, playing against 10 different teams and achieving 4th place in the County! This was a huge achievement for both my team and myself as a coach. I was very proud of their hard work, dedication and team effort. I continue to promote team work within my job role now, it’s so important to feel as part of a team, TEAM – Together, We, Achieve, More. Currently, I look after and manage more than 40 members of interviewing staff, both on site, in our central facility in Milton Keynes and remote.
I think the aspect I’m most proud of in my MR and Insights career journey is starting off at the bottom and working my way up to management level. I’ve always struggled with believing in myself and asking for help. Over time I have learned to harness this trait and develop myself to be engaged and ready to step up and ask!
In 2020, I took part in the AQR/MRS Recruiter Accreditation Scheme and I was the first person to complete this, which was a huge achievement and something I’m very proud of. I’m featured on the MRS website in recognition of this achievement. There are now hundreds of people with this accreditation, to be the first, is a major achievement for me.
What two things should junior researchers focus on as they progress in their careers?
In 2020, I took part in the AQR/MRS Recruiter Accreditation Scheme and I was the first person to complete this, which was a huge achievement and something I’m very proud of. I’m featured on the MRS website in recognition of this achievement. There are now hundreds of people with this accreditation, to be the first, is a major achievement for me.
Ask for help and support when you need it, even if you think a question sounds silly, ask it – we’ve all been there, it’s the way that we learn. If you have a supportive Senior Leader Team (SLT) around you, they’ll be more than happy to assist and be proud of you that you’re asking questions, rather than just assuming.
What message do you have for anyone considering a career in our sector?
A career journey like no other, no day is the same – there are lots of different departments/sectors within market research and so much to learn. If you’re considering a career in Market Research, I would highly recommend doing your own research first and finding out what department/sector you’d be interested in exploring further.
Have a vocational interest, something that makes you feel good. I work a lot with our local hospice, Willen Hospice. I help them by volunteering in my local retail charity shop on a Saturday, plus helping them raise awareness by holding events within the office each year (charity week), we’ve raised over £2000 over the past 3 years!
Do you have any advice for our sector as a whole?
From my own experience, it’s really important that staff members feel wanted and appreciated, and not just a number. When working in management, it’s often very easy to forget that ‘checking in’ on all staff members is vital. If staff members feel valued, the morale of the office instantly lifts, staff feel involved and absences reduces. Being more positive, caring and genuinely appreciative towards staff goes a long way, and unfortunately, not just in our sector but within most industries, this is something that is seriously lacking and needs addressing.
And do you have anyone who has helped your career so far that you’d like to acknowledge and say thanks or give a shout out to?
I could think of a handful of people that I would like to thank throughout my 10 years in the MR industry, but I’ll keep it short!
Firstly, my mum;- my biggest supporter, for believing in me to chase my dreams, for training me when I first began my career at Prevision Research and for helping me to get to where I am now as Call Centre Manager and Head Recruiter.
Richi, our Operations Director;- he’s been a great support, taught me a lot over the past 3 years specifically, to gain more knowledge and insight so that I can better assist him and the MD.
Martin, our old Managing Director;- he believed in me and my journey, would often have regular meetings with me to make sure that my workload wasn’t too much and that I wasn’t taking on too much with having two jobs. A warm, welcoming soul and someone I knew I could rely on, his words of wisdom and positivity will be something that I continue to look back on and something that supports me 10 years on!
The trio of Directors;- Bob, Stephen and Trevor have, in equal measures, been a great guidance since joining the company in 2019. They’ve helped me to build my confidence, pushed me out of my comfort zone and expanded my network of people who work within the industry. Supporting my training within the industry has been a big help, offering extra help as/when I require it, is something I value highly!