COFFEE BREAK with… Vicky Marsland - Childcare & Education

When did you join Christie & Co?
I joined in April 2017 and accepted my current role in the Childcare team in the August.

Where were you when you accepted your role at Christie & Co?
Sneaking out for a coffee at my previous job in Manchester Northern Quarter, I was in the campsite at Creamfields when I accepted the role as Childcare Business Agent.

What was your first job?
Aside from dog walking, cleaning cars and selling rose water as a youngster, my first proper job was at an estate agents my mother worked at. I updated the window advertisements and arranged the daily post after school when I was 14.

In a couple of sentences, can you tell us a bit about your job at Christie & Co?
I’m a regional business agent for Yorkshire & the North East specialising in childcare & education. My job largely consists of working with nursery operators looking to expand and help in planning their exit strategies, as well as working with buyers, solicitors and professional services to ensure smooth transactions.

What’s your favourite thing about Christie & Co?
It has to be two things: the people, and the central support in place for me to work flexibly with a range of clients.

What's a favourite project that you’ve worked on at Christie & Co so far?
I’d have to say my first transaction with Christie & Co, the sale of Polly Anna’s in York to an expanding operator. Nothing quite like the first.

What’s been the biggest challenge of your career so far?
There are a number of challenges faced in this role regularly, problem solving is part of the job, but ultimately remaining with the active team during the initial months of the pandemic was the biggest challenge, physically and mentally.

What’s been a highlight of your career so far?
Being awarded Corporate Best New Employee 2019 (even if I didn’t get to accept it in person due to the pandemic). It was very unexpected and really made me feel like this is where I’m supposed to be in my career.

How has the industry changed since you started at Christie & Co?
The childcare sector has continued to grow year on year with a number of market setting deals transacted in Yorkshire, bringing more national operators to the region.

Tell us a bit about your life outside work – what are your hobbies?
I’m a big foodie so anything involving food and drink, I’m there! I also enjoy walking, yoga, golf, reading and watching the latest film and tv releases.

What’s your hometown? Where do you live now?
I’ve moved around quite a lot in my life, I was born in Farnborough, grew up in Basingstoke, Bolton, Bury, and now live in Manchester. So, for me, home is where my family are.

Where’s the best place you’ve been on holiday?
I’m very lucky to have travelled a fair bit, so it’s a tie between Whitsunday Island in Australia and Cairo in Egypt (the great pyramids are mind-blowing!).

What’s your biggest pet peeve?
Talking over other people, and the inability to whisper when needed.

If you could live and work in any city, where would you go?
I’ve always wondered what it’d be like to live in Nashville. The music, the food, the whiskey… and maybe work on a ranch in a cool Stetson and boots.   

What would be your desert island meal?
It’s a really hard decision, but to be honest, I’d probably have to say a full English, something fancy with some pain au chocolat and fruit for afters.

What’s your favourite film?
Honestly… Forrest Gump! (Although I usually say True Romance, which is a very close 2^nd).

What is your favourite movie quote?
“A woman’s heart is a deep ocean of secrets.” -Titanic.

What is one thing on your bucket list?
Hot air balloon ride.

What is your biggest fear?
Claustrophobia!

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