A Day in the Life of ellenor's Director of Operations
It’s now 8 months since Liam Stone first arrived at ellenor. High energy and an entrepreneurial spirit saw him at the tender age of five selling sweets, buttons, key rings, and then – aged 5 - running a cleaning business to raise funds for his brother born with a life-limiting condition. Liam’s career later spanned roles at Boots, where he quickly rose through the ranks, and in hairdressing, where he opened several salons. His determination and charisma also caught the attention of a BBC production team, and he was set to feature on a hit show, which we hope will air in the near future after being postponed due to COVID.
“My brother’s journey with a life-limiting condition shaped my path from a young age. ellenor's support not only helped our family through tough times but also inspired me to dedicate my career to making a difference for others facing similar challenges,” says Liam.
Today, I’m here to delve deeper into Liam’s role as the Director of Operations at ellenor, the secrets behind his innovative approach,
and his mission to guide ellenor towards a more efficient and sustainable future.
Liam’s responsibilities span across various areas, overseeing everything from catering, housekeeping, facilities, health and safety, compliance, and IT, to retail operations including ellenor’s shops, our head office, the hospice and properties across the charity.
First on his agenda is a meeting with Mike, our Head of IT, who is spearheading a major tech upgrade across our facilities. Mike is also setting up the IT framework for our new Wellbeing centre opening later this year. These tech upgrades aim to boost efficiency, cut costs, and reduce our environmental footprint.
The next topic on the agenda with Mike is exploring e-commerce to expand ellenor’s impact. With 10 physical charity shops already thriving, Liam aims to extend to online retail, making the shopper experience an integral part of the charity’s business strategy. They also discuss cash systems, specifically a charity EPOS system designed to help organisations overcome the challenges of online and high-street charity retail. This new technology will streamline donation processes, manage Gift Aid submissions, accurately price donated goods, and generate a range of reports. I can see its going to be a busy day.
“We are a commercial and viable business, and we have to meet our targets to sustain our work within the local community. If we don’t stay ahead, we risk falling behind”.
After a quick cuppa, it’s off to a meeting with the team from Barnes Construction, who are overseeing the construction of our new Wellbeing centre. Discussions revolve around the removal of hoarding boards, fireproofing measures and enhancing on-site security for the wellbeing of our patients and staff.
Then, we hit the road to scout potential sites for new charity shops. Each location we explore holds of promise of becoming a vital lifeline for those we serve. For Liam, it’s not just about finding a space; it’s about more than raising money, it’s about laying the foundation for a brighter future for the individuals and families ellenor supports living with life limiting conditions.
“For charity shops to succeed, they must have a strong and supportive community around them, as it is the community that supports with donations, volunteering and good footfall. In terms of the property, it needs to be easy for people to drop off donations and they need to have reasonable back-room space to sort the donations that people kindly give us. currently we have 10 shops, and it is our aim to get 25 shops in 5 years, a warehouse and launch of ecommerce which will provide sustainable profit to help fund vital hospice care.”
Amidst the hustle and bustle of our day, one moment stands out – the simple pleasure of chips bought at the local chippie. It brings back memories and reminds me of life’s small delights. But more than that, shadowing Liam has been a great experience. His passion and commitment to our cause are palpable. He has great plans and I have no doubt that he will achieve them, and our charity will continue to flourish. Wishing you and your teams all the best 😊
