Nichola Stannard is a Mobile Cook Manager for Norse Catering, working in schools in the Gorleston, Great Yarmouth and Brundall areas.
Having worked in catering for many years, she also now cooks in some of NorseCare’s care homes at weekends.
“I worked in a café for 11 years and then a pub for three years,” she explains.
“After having time out to have my daughter, I was offered a job as a Catering Assistant with Norse Catering – that was in the February, by the October I had been offered the position of Cook Manager.”
Nichola was initially hesitant about taking up the role, however, as she didn’t know how she was going to manage her childcare.
“I explained that I couldn’t start work at 8am as I needed to take the children to school and the team at Norse Catering was very good,” she recalls.
“They allowed someone else to start earlier, so I could start a little later. The same situation arose when I was offered the Mobile Cook Manager’s job I have now.
“Again, I explained the hours wouldn’t work for me, and again they were prepared to be very flexible.
“It is good to see that Norse understands that some women need to be supported in order to be able to work.”
Nichola is pleased to see that International Women’s Day is marked every year as she believes it is through small steps that big changes are made.
“The trouble is that although we have come a long way, and women in history have successfully fought for more rights, a lot of bias still goes on behind closed doors,” she acknowledges.
“It is important that we continue to look forward and push for more change. I will be encouraging my daughter to go into further education and to really strive to achieve something in her life.
“I did the same with my son, who is now at university, and would like to see my daughter do just as well.”
Q: Is there a woman you particularly admire?
A: There have been a few women who have inspired me at different points in my life. The woman who owned the café I worked at for many years was very inspirational: she owned the business, worked and had small children too. I learned from her that you can do everything if you try.
Q: What advice would you give to a young woman just starting out on her career?
A: Work hard, stay strong and stick at it. In many ways, I wish I’d been encouraged to stick with education for longer. Things have changed since those days and I think it’s important we support girls and young men in the choices they want to make.
