A chance meeting while job hunting brought me initially as a ‘temp’ to the Manpower Research Group, and a few months later I was appointed as the Administrator for the newly created IER. Having seen the University grow from its embryonic state, it was most rewarding to be involved in IER's development and expansion. In the early days, there was a great deal of autonomy from the University’s central administration in how we ran IER and there was (and continues to be) a real entrepreneurial spirit among the talented researchers who chose what might have seemed a rather less secure career path than the conventional academic route.

Working alongside congenial and supportive colleagues played a significant role, especially in the occasional tricky situation. In time, my admin role expanded and I became involved in work with Professor Peter Elias on occupational classification, initially exploiting my linguistic expertise within the European setting. Eventually, having acquired a more substantive knowledge of the field, I became involved in several iterations of the UK Standard Occupational Classification (SOC).

Global reach and influence

Peter and I have occasionally wondered if we should create a map to show the number of countries and national statistical offices we have visited in the course of this work (making a revised occupational classification for Barbados has to be something of a highlight).

There cannot be too many corners of the world left untouched by IER staff. Reflecting on my experience of Warwick and of the IER, I am grateful to have spent, effectively, my whole working life in an environment where the opportunities for development and progression have been encouraged and nurtured."