Growing up in rural South Wales, I, like so many of my peers, accepted the inevitable. The only way to move forward as a young person was surely to leave the countryside behind and make the move to somewhere better connected. I left the sleepy, buses-come-once-an-hour village of Penperlleni, for life across the border.
My partner and I found our new home-from-home in the midlands, where I threw myself into student living at the University of Warwick. Learning within an international community was a world apart from the small comprehensive school which had first sparked my interest in Sociology and social research.
Social sciences gifted me with opportunities for independent learning – pursuing areas of interest such as racial and gender equality, economic injustice, politics and human rights. From this I knew that I loved meeting people from all walks of life and hearing about their experiences. My curiosity propelled me through an international research project in Singapore, to volunteering with the refugee community in Coventry and facilitating language groups with them. Alongside studying I was able to work and save to fund travel experiences, something we had little opportunity to do growing up.
Un-willing to close the door on education, I then secured a Master’s scholarship to study Social and Political Theory, developing my understanding further. Though by the time of completion, I was plagued by the question of impact. The trap of academia seemed to be an endless cycle of writing about all the world’s ills, only for papers to be submitted and never looked at again.
Navigating life as a graduate can be challenging enough – without the added weight of a global pandemic. I had just embarked on my next chapter when Covid hit, calling everything into question. One thing however, became crystal clear; I needed to find meaningful work.
I spent some time taking a deep-dive into the world of public health, joining Coventry Council as a Covid advisor. Nothing quite prepares you for the range of questions that people have about the virus, although I did consider writing a book on them. ‘Can I still sleep with my wife if I have covid?’, ‘Can I sue the NHS for my positive covid test and loss of earnings?’ just two regular conversation highlights.
In the back of my head of course, was always the option of applying to a graduate scheme. Whilst many of the well-known corporate schemes offer attractive incentives, I couldn’t transfer four years of studying social inequalities, to work for a soulless company without any sense of social responsibility.
This is where Miller presents an un-paralleled opportunity. The chance to join a small team which is genuine in its endeavor to make a positive impact, is committed to sustainability and welcomes curiosity and growth.
I never once imagined that I would find this opportunity within a welcoming remote team, with an office based near the very area that I grew up – on an idyllic farm complete with black sheep, rolling hills and country lanes.
Since joining Miller I’ve already had the chance to experience a business development day, securing my confidence that the team is committed to innovation, improvement – and genuinely values diversity of thought. Miller offers me the best of both worlds, leading the way in remote working yet ensuring that my connection to the team and the projects I work on, have never felt closer to home.
