Joanne Barber
Location: Manchester
Qualifications: BA Human Geography
I joined SQW’s Manchester office in 2017 after graduating from the University of Sheffield with a degree in Human Geography. After 18 months as a Research Consultant, I was promoted to Consultant, Senior Consultant and am now a Managing Consultant.
During my time at SQW, I have had the opportunity to develop both my quantitative and qualitative research skills – notably undertaking consultation and case study research, and the use of GIS and Excel – as well softer skills such as communication, project management, and writing. When I started there was a comprehensive internal training programme, and as I’ve progressed there have been frequent opportunities to further my professional development (for example, last year I completed a two day mental health first aid course). Regular proposition calls and ‘knowledge snack’ sessions are also useful ways for sharing knowledge and learning across the company.
The nature of my role is varied, and I have worked on proposals and projects across the breadth of SQW’s expertise for both public and private sector clients. Having experienced a variety of work at SQW, I have chosen to focus primarily on spatial development and innovation projects. For example, I recently managed a demand assessment and development of a business case for a new, regionally significant innovation centre in Northern England, contributed to the interim evaluation of British Business Bank’s Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund and led a two-stage evaluation of an ERDF supported research and innovation project at a Welsh university.
Over the years I have been to a variety of office socials, ranging from virtual ‘show and tell’, cocktails and quiz socials during the Covid-19 lockdown, to office lunches, walks and bowling, and of course the yearly Christmas social. Crucially, SQW provides a supportive working environment. Colleagues are very encouraging, and are genuinely interested in staff development and performance, as well as employee wellbeing.
