Willow

Willow's STORY

Data & Analytics Manager, Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water

Data & Analytics Manager
Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water

When Willow started with Welsh Water on their graduate programme, she was provided with more opportunities and training than she could mention but it was everything from business knowledge by meeting with heads of service, directors and CEO; leadership training like dealing with difficult conversations; soft skills training including presenting, Prince 2 and Lean Yellow Belt.

What area of the business do you work in?

I am part of the Operational Services, Data Team. I have worked here for 2.5 years.

Give an overview of your role and what it entails?

I lead the Data Science Team to deliver analytical projects that provide Welsh Water with decision support tools that help the business to make more informed data led decisions.

How does the company support you to develop through training and development?

I started with Welsh Water on their graduate programme, I was provided with more opportunities and training than I can mention here but it was everything from business knowledge by meeting with heads of service, directors and CEO; leadership training like dealing with difficult conversations; soft skills training including presenting, Prince 2 and Lean Yellow Belt. As graduates we completed a 6 month fundraising challenge in aid of The Prince’s Trust, this enabled us to get out and meet different people from across the organisation whilst raising money for charity and developing additional skills required to organise and host large events including 10Km run and charity dinner and auction. Since completing the graduate scheme and going into my substantive roles I have been supported to become a Chartered Scientist and continue to develop my business and leadership skills.

What do you enjoy most about your role?

The variety, the Data Science Team works with all areas of the business. Projects that the team deliver align with different Measures of Success, this means that every project is different, working with a different team, for a different business challenge, using a different analytical technique and adding differing benefits to the business but all with the same aim of improving the service for our customers. The subject matter experts that we work with are always friendly and willing to teach us more about their business area to ensure the project that we deliver is usable and adds business benefit.