Sharpsmart Spotlight: Amber Marshall

Would you rather go tobogganing down the Great Wall of China, or brave the outside of the cage whilst shark diving? Let’s meet someone who’s done both!

We want to take a moment to shine the spotlight on Sharpsmart’s resident globe-trotter, one of our Contract Managers, Amber Marshall.

Who Is Sharpsmart’s Globe-Trotting Adrenaline Junkie?

Amber’s Sharpsmart experience began around 10 years ago when she was 18 and we were a much smaller operation. She started in Customer Service at a time when if a customer needed extra stock, Amber would jump in a van and deliver it herself – the days before we had warehouse units and a national fleet.

After a few years had passed, Amber’s wanderlust got the better of her and she took off for three years travelling the world as a cabin crew member for Emirates and set up home in Dubai. Amber was told that the door would always be open if she returned, and when she did, she was back at her desk (albeit a new one) with the Customer Service team.

It wasn’t long before Amber was promoted to Customer Service Manager, then shortly after that, the country went into lockdown, and we suddenly got a lot busier – Amber had to settle into her new management role remotely.

The birth of her son saw Amber taking maternity leave before returning on a part-time basis, before taking the leap from Customer Service into Contract Management as a fully-fledged member of our commercial team.

Becoming a mum has calmed Amber down a little. She’s gone from jumping out of planes to getting nervous in line at Alton Towers, but she still enjoys being outdoors, socialising, and trying food from different cultures.

But that’s enough from us – now that you have an idea of who Amber Marshall is, let’s hear about her Sharpsmart experience directly from her…

What do you enjoy most about working for Sharpsmart?

The people side of the business, both our customers and staff. I love being out in the field with our customers. I get so much enjoyment and job satisfaction from being with people, especially working with the NHS. It feels like I’m making a difference and living up to our mission of making healthcare safer.

I also fully believe in our products and services and how they work to improve the lives of healthcare workers and patients, especially our reusable sharps containers.

What do you like to do for fun?

I love spending time with my little boy and being outdoors, it’s difficult when the weather isn’t great because we end up spending every week in soft play areas. I prefer to get him outdoors on his bike in skate parks – I want him to be a cool skater boy.

What’s the strangest thing you’ve ever done for fun?

I’ve done all sorts, jumped out of planes, a boat trip down the Mekong River Delta in Vietnam. I also dived with whale sharks in the Philippines – they’re huge, flabby, docile things that swim right by you.

I guess the strangest would be when I went shark diving, and getting out of the cage was optional… So, of course, I did it!

I’ve seen some of the Wonders of the World too, and I once ended up on a toboggan slide at the Great Wall of China…

What were your first impressions of Sharpsmart?

I was made to feel comfortable and at ease during my interview, I was offered a cup of tea straight away and welcomed with open arms, and it didn’t take long to see how friendly and close-knit the team were.

What’s the most fulfilling thing you’ve done with Sharpsmart?

There are so many things… Managing the Customer Service team was fulfilling, managing a team that I knew was providing such good service and seeing positive feedback from customers was rewarding.

Working during the pandemic was another one, we weren’t missing collections or failing services, and even put on additional collections for hospitals that were struggling.

And then another is moving over to the commercial team to get involved in Contract Management, I’m out with people, on-site with our customers and it’s things like training NHS staff – I never imagined I’d be able to do something like that, I’m not that confident when it comes to public speaking.

What’s the strangest thing you’ve been asked to do whilst on the job?

I was recently added to an email thread by a customer looking to arrange the collection of a skeleton that they’re not sure whether or not is real – it’s been in a box in their facility for over 20 years!

What does growth look like for you and your team?

At the moment, I’m responsible for managing our community contracts, so I’m looking forward to onboarding more customers and growing our team to support that growth. Our community customers receive the same level of service excellence as our acute hospitals and trusts.

What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned over your career?

To have confidence in myself when I know what I’m talking about and if I don’t know something, not to be too shy to ask.

How would you describe the culture at Sharpsmart?

We have a great team of people and I always have the best time both at work and socially. Also, my local office in Spennymoor is like my second home, I never wake up with a sense of dread about going to work.

There are also a lot of growth opportunities here at Sharpsmart and we’re encouraged to keep growing and replacing ourselves.

If you could dispel one myth about the healthcare waste industry, what would that be?

That sustainable solutions are an expensive option – if you look beyond the initial cost and see the bigger picture of value and benefits, it’s clear that sustainability pays for itself in more ways than one.

What advice would you give someone looking for a career with Sharpsmart?

Be yourself completely, be open-minded, and don’t be scared to ask questions, especially if you’re new to this industry – there’s a lot to learn and take in. The Sharpsmart team is filled with experts willing to share that knowledge.

And once you’re here, you don’t need to stay in one role, there are career opportunities and you can go anywhere you like, whether that’s a different role or a new department, you can grow with the business.

If you were abandoned on a desert island, which three Sharpsmart colleagues would you want with you?

Josh Glover, because he was a chef, can cook up some good things on the island, and we’re going to need food.

Kerry Higgins, her laugh is wicked, and she could hopefully make us some wine.

And James Hunt, he’ll be able to fix any problem, and he’s always there in times of need, also, his dry sense of humour has me laughing all the time.

Between those three, I’ve got food, wine, and laughter so I’m all set!

Bonus Question: If everything you ate or drank for the rest of your life could only have one flavour, what would you want it to be?

It’ll have to be Biscoff, it might make me sick after a while but it’s very on-trend.

Join Our Pride! 

Are you currently considering an exciting new career with an innovative company that gives you a platform for growth and development?

If you are, and you’d also like to be a part of making healthcare safer and more sustainable, you’ll fit in nicely with the Sharpsmart pride.