HEATHER BRACEY A N O R G A N I S E D , D E T A I L O R I E N T A T E D , L O Y A L W O R K E R ABOUT
CONTACT
“No matter the task, Heather is a self-starter, and will always see a job through to the end. She’s also a big believer in the importance of details – whether it’s the finishing touches to a cake, or a presentation."
49 Bridge Keepers Way,
- Kirstie Baker, client, co-worker, full reference available on request
Hardwicke, Gloucester, GL2 4BD 07961425424 heatherlouisebracey@gmail.com
EDUCATION GCSEs including: Art, English & maths – Maidenhill School NVQs including: Beauty therapy Levels 1+2 – Stroud College Customer services Level 2 – Hartpury College
EXPERIENCE
LOOKING FOR NEW OPPORTUNITIES Present
Currently I am a homemaker and small business owner, looking to re-enter employment and develop a career. I raise two children with my fiancé who are both now of school age. I have enjoyed both the creativity and discipline that raising children brings, coming up with activities keep them stimulated, and also creating routines that ensure they have structure in their lives. During this time in my life, I also took the initiative to set up a small bakery business which I run from home, creating bespoke cakes for all occasions. USPs include cocktail cupcakes, cakes for dogs, elaborate children’s themed cakes with light up and music components, and realistic-looking cakes such as beverage bottles or biscuits. Running a small business and getting to know my target market has furthered my understanding of matters such as branding, pricing, ordering and filling, and market positioning. I have also leaned into every learning opportunity possible with this enterprise (as I do most things!) attending baking classes and conventions to learn about the latest cake trends.
DOG GROOMING PROFESSIONAL 2007-2017
For close to a decade, I also helped with the running of a dog grooming salon in Stonehouse. I enjoyed this immensely, and unfortunately only left the business due to the owner becoming ill and closing the shop. I worked here from a young age, working my way up to management. My duties included the day-to-day running of the shop, including opening and closing the store, walking, cleaning and general grooming of the dogs, administration duties including managing appointments, paperwork and phone duties, and other customer service tasks such as complaint handling. I took on additional responsibilities over the years including covering for the owner and manager, making pricing decisions, handling the interview processes from start to finish, training new staff, and prioritising and delegating roles amongst a small team. I also took initiative to set up several new services such as in-house dog sitting, glitter toes and feathers, and even microchipping which involved an extensive course, which I also saw as a new learning opportunity. Working at the salon taught me the importance of keeping on top of day-to-day tasks, team-working, and gave me the skills I needed to be able to learn quickly whilst on-the-job.
STONEHOUSE COURT HOTEL SILVER SERVICE WAITRESS 2007-2017
As a teenager, I was eager to enter the world of work and take on additional responsibilities. Stonehouse Court Hotel offered the perfect opportunity to do this, where I worked as a waitress for events and day-to-day functions. The hotel required us to learn silver service, offering a premium customer service experience. I quickly learned the nuances of this, and also the importance of maintaining standards with matters such as food hygiene and general work place health and safety. In addition, this job also provided me with valuable skill sets when it came to working with a variety of clientele, and how to quickly adapt to different situations and scenarios.
PERSONAL QUALITIES
I am a quick learner and dedicated to any task I either set for myself, or that is set for me. My son Noah is testament to this, with the amount of elaborate Lego models he demands me to construct. Fortunately, unlike some customer service jobs I have had, he expresses gratitude at the end of the task! Whether I am running a household, or a business, I understand the importance of good organisation at every level, and excel at managing calendars, people, budgets and environments. I enjoy spending time with my family and organising days out for us to spend quality time together. I have an interest in world travel as I believe it opens people up for more experiences and gives you a greater awareness of different cultures, something I’m keen to pass on to my children. Finally, my friends and family would possibly describe me as a little OCD, because I have been known to pay great attention to detail, and keep things to very high standards of cleanliness. I believe, however, that the little things add up to the big things in life, and see great importance in every aspect of every task at hand.