Here at the Millfields Trust and Millfields Inspired, we have a fantastic group of people who bring a wide variety of talent and knowledge to our organisation. Our ‘Meet the Team’ feature gives us the opportunity to showcase our amazing team members and today we’d love you to meet, Mandy Toze and Sadie Chambers.
What is your name, role at Millfields Trust and how long have you been in this position?
Mandy Toze – firstly thank you for featuring us on ‘Millfields Trust: Meet the Team’, my name is Mandy and my role has been Business Development Manager for the past 23 years! I job share the position with Sadie Chambers.
If someone had told me, I would work for the same company for 23 years I would have laughed. Here I am, not only is it evident I enjoy my job I also enjoy the fact that the Millfields Trust over this time has grown and developed so much, nothing stands still which makes my role here so more enjoyable, looking for the next challenge!
Sadie Chambers – second that, it’s lovely to be featured on ‘Millfields Trust: Meet the Team’. I’m a Business Development Manager and have been with the trust for 8 years.
What do you love most about your role? and working at Millfields Trust?
Mandy – variety, no one day is the same and it’s a social role that includes checking in on tenants, networking, meeting new tenants and showing off our portfolio of premises that we manage here at the Millfields Trust. We are a small team, with a healthy mix of fun and hard work.
Sadie – I love the fact that we are a Social Enterprise, which means we are committed to bringing about positive social changes through the profits we make. I really enjoy meeting new people and bringing in new tenants to the trust.
What does an average day look like for you? What happens?
Mandy & Sadie – every day differs, that’s what we love about our job, but it can also be incredibly busy. Our main job is to find new tenants, show them around our premises with the hope of signing them up. We can also get stuck into anything else that is going on. We are based in the Genesis building so get involved in the day to day running of the building and helping tenants with any issues they may be having. We also work together on joint projects such as arranging and hosting networking events, creating reports, literature, website and social media content.
What is your professional background and what brought you to Millfields Trust?
Mandy – I have a Foundation Degree in Business, and I’m currently studying for an Associate Project Manager Level 4 qualification. You’re never too old to learn!
Sadie – I have a Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing and before the Millfields Trust I worked in marketing and PR for over 20 years for a telecommunications company and a university, which was very different to my job today.
Tell us more about the tenants?
Sadie & Mandy – gosh, where do we start, we have everyone from 1 person businesses right up to global organisations alongside charities and third sector organisations. We have around 110 tenants, so they keep us really busy and the variety of businesses is so interesting. Some of our tenants have been with us from the start which is now over 23 years. Our tenants are great, some we hardly see and others feel like work colleagues. It’s so nice to have a catch up with them to see how their businesses are doing and we try to help wherever we can with the promotion of their businesses, if they want us to.
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Have you got any Millfields Trust highlights or what are you looking forward to in 2023?
Sadie – with a new Chief Executive in post and a recent office move, we are diving into new territory in 2023 with the purchase of a local pub. We need to start this project from scratch with the aspiration to turn it into a really great community space for the people of Stonehouse. Watch this space!
Mandy – I love planning networking events. Over the years the Millfields Trust has gained a great reputation for our women in business events, these are always well attended by like minded business women in Plymouth who all support and empower each other. Seeing them succeed gives us great sense of achievement! Our big birthday events, 5, 10 & 20 year celebrations – these have always been great successes too! Also the support we were able to give our tenants throughout the pandemic, not only financially for those who needed it, but being there for them and checking in on them was a big highlight for me.
In terms of the future, I’m really excited about the pub as Sadie mentioned and our Block D development which is in planning.
What do you love about Stonehouse?
Mandy – we have so much to be thankful for on our our doorstep with so many organisations striving to help the local community. We have amazing support networks to help everyone. If we can’t help, we know someone who can. There are so many passionate business owners and tenants who give back to the local community within their corporate social responsibility programmes. There is so much support given to our charity Millfields inspired and many of our other tenants. It’s the camaraderie that really inspires me, especially through challenging times. And of course not to mention the beautiful landscape we get to enjoy when taking a break!
Sadie – there are so many wonderful people striving to help the community, which is what makes it so special here. Stonehouse today is very different to 8 years ago when I joined the Trust. It’s changing for the better and I can only imagine how much better it will be in another 8 years if we, along with our neighbouring organisations, continue to work our magic on the area.
What do you love about Plymouth?
Sadie – I’m Plymouth born and bred. Everything is on our doorstep and as a city I believe we have a lot to be thankful for.
Mandy – Plymouth is friendly, I have lived her for 26 years and feel at home. I have met some great long term friends and professionals that really look out for you.
What is the best piece of advice you have been given?
Mandy – I’ve learnt over the years to always trust your gut feeling, this is key!
Sadie – I don’t recall a piece of advice in particular, but I know that I live by the motto “treat people as you would like to be treated”
Anything else?
Sadie – I feel so lucky to love my job. I have had jobs where I have wished my days away, but here, my days fly by without realising. I think there is a lot to be said for that.
Mandy – We hope this edition of ‘Millfields Trust: Meet the Team’, was able to give you a nice feel for the organisation and what it’s like being a tenant here with us.
If you’re a business in need of office space, light industrial units or possibly just a meeting room, head over to Our Premises today. If you already know exactly what you need then please don’t hesitate to contact the team.
If you want to learn more about our organisation and have any requests for future editions of ‘Millfields Trust: Meet the Team’, please get in contact!