Q&A with Environmental Sustainability Manager Darshika Patel
March 02, 2022
A.F. Blakemore appointed a new Environmental Sustainability Manager in January to help drive the company’s environmental sustainability strategy forward.
Darshika Patel joined A.F. Blakemore’s Responsible Business team in the newly created role to help the company develop a clear environmental strategy.
She will be working closely with Responsible Business Director Caoire Blakemore to embed environmental sustainability within the company’s culture.
We caught up with Darshika to find out more.
Tell us about your career to date. How did you get into your line of work?
I have worked in a range of industries from academia through to the NHS and the railway. In my last role, there was a clear need for a focus on environmental compliance and my job was to embed environmental compliance into the organisation.
It was a challenging but exciting time – I was able to work with so many different functions and a diverse range of stakeholders.
What do you enjoy most about working in this field?
I am fascinated by the natural world and how it rejuvenates and sustains life. I feel very lucky to be working in an area that I feel passionate about. Plus, I get to work with lots of interesting and different people because it feeds through all levels of an organisation.
Environmental sustainability is a constantly advancing and changing area in terms of knowledge and deliverables. There are lots of exciting changes which are needed and overdue. These changes will be challenging but, in order to be sustainable, are a step in the right direction.
Why did you decide to join A.F. Blakemore?
I was looking for a new challenge and wanted to work for a company that has vision to embed environmental sustainability into its foundation and capture the value it can bring. The industry, although not completely brand new to me, is different from my previous roles, and so far what I have learnt is fascinating.
I am also really inspired by the history of the company, its family values and its purpose.
What are your first impressions of the company?
It’s friendly – everyone has been really welcoming! There is a clear sense of loyalty and trust with those that I have met. I am taken aback by how big the company is and how little I knew of it, especially considering I don’t live too far away from HQ.
I am also really excited about the launch of the brand values and the Allyship Programme – I feel it says a lot about the company, its focus and direction.
What does your new role encompass?
I will be responsible for ensuring environmental sustainability is a key consideration in the business and communicating its value and opportunities. One of my first objectives is to look at the company’s carbon footprint.
The Environmental Sustainability Manager is a new role and part of the central Responsible Business team, and I’ll be working closely with Caoire Blakemore to develop and embed a clear environmental strategy which aligns to the business and divisional strategies.
Tell us a little bit about yourself outside of work.
I was born in Yorkshire and started my life in a small family corner shop. My family moved to the Midlands to be closer to my grandparents and we have lived in the Black Country since I was in junior school. I have a very large extended family who all live close by and I spend a lot of my free time with them.
I enjoy walking/hiking and visiting vintage and charity shops with friends. I spend weekends trawling through vintage/charity shops looking for furniture to upcycle. I have grown up mending and making clothes and soft furnishings and learnt those skills from my mum, who still teaches me new techniques.
I am a volunteer with the Black Country Wildlife Trust, where I support with activities like biodiversity counts and discovered amazing local nature walks over the pandemic. Through the trust I discovered a UNESCO Heritage site just down the road from where I live.
Finally, I love a good quote. I feel they help to give me a lift and inspire. Please feel free to share any that provide you with inspiration! One from me – everything will be okay in the end; if it’s not okay, it’s not the end.
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