This year marks a significant personal and professional milestone as I celebrate 25 years of service with Nottingham City Council Children’s Services.

Over the past two and a half decades, I have had the privilege of working alongside dedicated colleagues to support children, young people and families across Nottingham. During that time, I have experienced a wide range of roles, witnessed considerable organisational change, navigated challenges, contributed to service transformation and supported multiple restructures. Each experience has shaped my approach to leadership and strengthened my passion for making a positive difference. For more than 15 years, I have held leadership positions, focusing on supporting teams, driving continuous improvement and delivering high-quality services. While experience is invaluable, I firmly believe that great leadership is never static. It is a lifelong journey of learning, reflection and growth.

Reaching this 25-year milestone is particularly meaningful to me as, alongside the demands and opportunities of my career, I have also learned to navigate and manage a chronic health condition. This experience has strengthened my resilience, shaped my perspective and reinforced the importance of continued personal and professional growth. I am incredibly grateful for the support, understanding and flexibility I have received from Nottingham City Council throughout my career and health journey, which has enabled me to continue contributing, leading, developing and thriving both personally and professionally.

With that in mind, I recently began the ILM Level 7 Senior Leadership programme. This exciting opportunity will enable me to build on my extensive management experience, further develop my strategic leadership capabilities and gain fresh perspectives that can be applied to service development and organisational improvement. I am already gaining so much from the programme. One of the greatest benefits has been having dedicated time and space to pause, think and reflect   on my leadership style, behaviours, values and experiences, while identifying areas where I can continue to grow and develop. In the fast-paced world we work in, that opportunity for reflection is both valuable and empowering.

As I look back with pride on the achievements, lessons and relationships built over the last 25 years, I am equally excited about the future. The ILM Level 7 journey represents not only a commitment to my own professional development but also an opportunity to continue strengthening the services we provide for children, young people and families.  I am proud of how far I’ve come, grateful for the people who have supported me along the way, and excited for the next chapter of growth, learning and leadership through my ILM Level 7 journey. 😊

Prostart thank Anna for her inspiring words and dedication to the learning journey. If you have a story to tell and inspire the next Apprentices, contact your Learning & Development Coach or get in touch – 0115 9468182 info@prostartuk.co.uk