Joining France+Associates (F+A) has been an incredibly positive experience for our new team members, Sharlene Hardy and Nicola Thomas.

Their initial impressions highlight the welcoming and collaborative atmosphere that defines our workplace.  Dive into their reflections as they share what they've learned, enjoyed, and experienced during their early days at F+A. 

Q. What are your first impressions about F+A? 

A. Sharlene:  It’s got to be the people - everyone here is really friendly and helpful, and I know it sounds a bit cliché, but it’s true! I am enamoured by the professionalism and passion the team have for their work. There’s a perfect balance between being respected to work on your own initiative and then being able to reach out to share and work on ideas with colleagues when the need arises.  

A. Nicola: In my first few months at F+A, it’s been nothing short of fantastic. What truly resonates with me is the profound impact my work has on those in need. I have enjoyed becoming part of the Design Team, the warmth and kindness of my colleagues have made settling in a breeze. 

Q. What have you learnt in the first few months at F+A? 

A. Sharlene: I’m learning something new every day, whether it is about the company, the industry and more. As the business has undergone growth recently, I have been exploring new ways of working to improve efficiency for myself and other systems we have in place. Technologies have changed vastly over the years, and I’m staggered from my research on what potential there is out there. Being from a construction background, I’m also learning about the latest innovations in the industry, specific to accessible design. I’m really impressed by what is available out there in terms of accessible equipment, kitchens, bathrooms and more, to enable people to live their best lives. 

A. Nicola: One outstanding moment was attending a training day led by Jonathan Fogerty, an associate solicitor at CFG. This was an essential day providing a comprehensive exploration of Spinal Cord Injury (SCI). I gained valuable insights into services offered by the SCI charities. The event fostered collaboration and a deeper understanding of SCI’s impacts on individual’s lives. 

Q. What do you most enjoy about your role? 

A. Sharlene: I really enjoy working with my colleagues as we all want to do our best and there is real camaraderie. I have been doing lots of collaborative working with others, and it’s a real pleasure to be a part of that as the team here take great pride in what they do.  

A. Nicola: The prospect of ongoing growth and learning ignites my passion, I thrive on the challenge of evolving both professionally and personally. For me, there’s immense value in enjoying what I do. It’s not just about a job, it’s about finding purpose and belonging. I’m fortunate that F+A’s values align with my own, making every day here meaningful and fulfilling. 

Q. What your day consists of?  

A. Sharlene: My day consists of working closely with my managers to help our clients, solicitors, case managers and others, to experience the best service possible. A big part of my role is supporting my colleagues in generating reports and conducting property searches, and I also spend time liaising with our customers in keeping them updated on timescales. 

A. Nicola: I support a very busy Design Team and my day-to-day responsibility is to help organise and administer tasks during each project, helping to keep the work flowing and on target. 

Q. What you took away from the training day? 

A. Sharlene: The “Living with Spinal Cord Injury” training day that was held by F+A recently in conjunction with others gave me the opportunity to hear directly from people with spinal cord injury about the unique challenges that they face, including day-to-day living, and medical issues specific to them too. Sometimes, I think it can be a bit difficult to truly appreciate other people’s situations, but when you hear from someone first-hand of their experience, then it really brings it to life. There was an opportunity to visit a fitted kitchen designed with accessibility in mind and I was left thinking “we should design all kitchens like this!”. I was also able to learn from experts in the field about the legal system in relation to claims for injuries and clinical negligence which will help me going forward in my new role. It was a fantastic day, with lots of networking thrown into the mix too - I would recommend it to everyone! Here’s to the next training day!