In Your Shoes - Natasha Clarkson

Monday - Team meetings & Getting To Know Eachother

Monday morning began with our team meeting, where we discussed the week ahead and shared updates on the activities each team member will be focusing on. I’ve found these meetings really valuable as I settle into the role, as they give me a clearer understanding of everyone’s responsibilities, the wider priorities of the team and how different areas of work connect.

We also spent time discussing our upcoming Summer Social event in more detail, including the running order and key elements of the event. This was particularly useful for me as someone new to the team, as it gave me a better insight into how our events are planned, structured and delivered.

The meeting ended on a fun and exciting note as we chose our football teams for the upcoming World Cup games, which was kindly organised by my colleague Frances Brown. It was a lovely way to bring some energy into the start of the week and added a nice team-building element to the morning. The teams I got were Scotland (woohoo!), Morocco, Colombia, Czechia and Saudi Arabia! 

Tuesday - Summer Social at James Hutton Institute

Tuesday was an exciting day as the full DACC team attended our Summer Social event at The James Hutton Institute, which was also my first event as an employee at DACC.

It was a great opportunity to see a Chamber event in action and gain a better understanding of how these events bring members together. I really enjoyed having the chance to meet and speak with members, learn more about their businesses and hear first-hand about the different sectors represented across the Chamber network.

The setting at The James Hutton Institute made the event particularly interesting. Throughout the day, we received insightful talks about the work taking place there and had the opportunity to take part in tours, which gave us a closer look at some of the research, innovation and facilities on site. One of the highlights was learning more about the blueberries, which was a memorable and engaging part of the visit. If you haven't found out about The James Hutton Institute and the amazing work they do - I highly reccommend checking them out!

As someone still settling into the role, it was also a valuable experience to observe how the team supports members during events, facilitates conversations and creates opportunities for connection. Attending the Summer Social helped me feel more connected to the wider business community and gave me a clearer sense of the value these events can offer to our members.

Wednesday - Shadowing, Marketing Reports & Sewing!

Wednesday was another useful day of learning and development as I spent time shadowing my colleague Maisie across a range of marketing activities, including news flashes and newsletters. It was helpful to see more of the process behind our member communications and understand how different updates are pulled together, planned and shared with the wider Chamber network.

I also started working on the marketing report for May, which has been a good opportunity to familiarise myself with our reporting processes, key marketing activity and the types of insights we track as a team. As I continue settling into the role, tasks like this are helping me build a clearer picture of how our communications support members and contribute to the wider work of DACC.

After work, I headed home and had dinner with my partner before spending the evening relaxing with some beading and sewing. I’ve been working on a series of small pieces over the last few months, and I recently finished this dragonfly. It was a lovely way to end the day and spend some time doing something creative outside of work.

Thursday - Membership Catch-Ups & Member Calls

Thursday started with a catch-up around membership activity, which helped me better understand how DACC supports and stays connected with members through various touchpoints.

I also made my first few calls to members, which I really enjoyed. It was a great opportunity to introduce myself, hear more about their businesses and begin building those relationships. Alongside this, I also had a few meetings scheduled with some of our membership benefit partners, including Westfield Health, the AA, Motia and Octopus, which will help me learn more about the support and services available to members.

I’m looking forward learning more about the businesses that make up the Chamber and talking with Start-Up and Bronze members about the amazing benefits we have. 

Friday – Shadowing, Marketing Audit & Member Calls

Friday involved more shadowing across a few different areas, including newsletters, news flashes and the chat function on our website. It was useful to continue learning how these different communication channels are managed and how they support our day-to-day work.

I also continued working on a marketing audit I’ve been developing, which has been a helpful way to understand DACC’s current activity, content and opportunities in more detail.

Later in the day, I called a few more members, which I’m continuing to enjoy as I get to know more of the businesses connected with the Chamber. I also managed to enjoy lunch outside in the sunshine, which was lovely - our location is fantastic, with a beautiful view across Victoria Dock.

After a busy first week, I’m ready for a relaxed weekend before starting another busy week on Monday.