Christmas Spotlight: Caroline Hawkesley

As we near the end of a landmark year following the gradual return to ‘normality’ post-Covid, we grab 60 seconds with Caroline Hawkesley is Chief Operations Officer at Progeny, in an exclusive for the p.ublished group of online newspapers, reflecting on 2022…

1. After a difficult time for many businesses during the pandemic, what was your primary objective at the start of the year?

Throughout 2022, our key aim has been to continue to offer amazing client service. This has involved a big focus on not only enhanced technology solutions and internal processes but also culture and employee engagement, to ensure all team members understand our company’s ‘why’.

2. Looking back on 2022, what have been the 3 biggest highlights for Progeny?

The first one has to be welcoming so many new team members from recent acquisitions, including expanding internationally. It’s really exciting to bring new talent and vision into the business.
Second would have to be our inaugural summer school programme that we ran for school leavers in August. This was designed to give students an insight into the roles within the financial services sector and we were just so impressed by how confident, enquiring and open-minded our delegates were.
Last, but not least, has been moving forward with our sustainability goals, including progressing with our application for B Corp certification and selecting our first charity partner for our Progeny Foundation.

3. And the most difficult challenge for your business?

It’s a good challenge to have, but our continued growth has challenged us to integrate acquired businesses into Progeny without detracting from the demands of our day-to-day. This has meant recruiting a dedicated integrations team, to ensure it’s done carefully, purposefully and successfully.

4. If you had to sum up 2022 in one word, which would you use?

Eventful!

5. What’s Progeny’s key goal for next year?

2023 will be another year of expansion and growth for Progeny, as we continue to seek and acquire businesses that fit our vision for the future of the industry, in terms of offering a joined-up professional services package.

6. Name another Northern firm that hope will have an outstanding year in 2023…

Zarach is our Progeny Foundation charity partner and is an amazing organisation committed to helping children and families who are living in poverty crisis. It was set up by Bex Wilson, a Leeds primary school teacher, who was shocked to learn that many children at her school had no bed to sleep in and now helps families break free from the cycle of poverty. With Bex’s drive and determination and support from partners like Progeny, I can’t wait to see what Zarach can achieve in 2023.

7. How do you think the regional business climate will fare overall?

Profitability will continue be under pressure for business of all sizes in the year ahead, so it’s vital that they focus on running a tight ship in terms of business efficiency and leveraging what differentiates them from their competitors.

8. It’s perhaps the first opportunity to celebrate a ‘real’ Christmas post-Covid – what will it look like for you?

As a business, it’s been great to offer colleagues the opportunity to get together face to face again, which included premiering our annual awards on the big screen at five cinemas across the UK.

9. What’s the worst Christmas gift you’ve ever been given?

A chocolate orange – these are two ingredients that should never even be in the same room together in my opinion!

10. Describe Christmas at your house, in three words

We’re going abroad for Christmas so - sun, sand and laughter.