Meet Charlotte Dale

Charlotte Dale joined OCS at age 18, initially seeking a short-term voluntary role to gain experience before travelling. However, her plans changed when she was offered a position as a Social Media Executive just two weeks after her interview, marking the start of her career at OCS. We sat down with Charlotte to understand her career journey at OCS and how she worked towards her current position.

Charlotte began under the Head of Marketing, focusing on content creation and meeting performance metrics. As the team evolved, she later transitioned to working under the Digital Marketing Manager, honing her skills in social media management, content writing and analytics.

One of her many achievements was coordinating the “Race the Thames” challenge, involving over 400 OCS colleagues. This large-scale event required participants to log their physical activities, aiming to collectively cover the distance of the River Thames. This was Charlotte’s first major project, where she organised and led the event, working with the CEO and MD of the National Rowing Group and ensuring all coordinators were on track. Charlotte’s organisational skills and leadership were crucial in the success of this event, which ultimately led to a change of role.

Following the success of the Race The Thames event, owing largely to Charlotte’s exemplary coordination and communication skills, she was given a new position, widening her scope from Social Media Executive to Junior Marketing Executive. Her new role brought on new challenges, where she took on further coordination responsibilities, collaborating with marketing managers, sales teams and supporting the finance team with budget management and supplier payments. She also represented OCS at various awards nights and networking events, engaging with major companies like Tesco and Next. These achievements highlight her journey in developing strong strategic thinking and leadership skills, while significantly growing her confidence.

Charlotte emphasises the impact of positive mentorship and team support on her career development at OCS:

This personalised approach enabled Charlotte to seek feedback and continuously improve. She cherishes the flexibility and accommodation for personal development, as well as the support from her team members.

OCS’s strong focus on people and its genuine care for colleagues is what attracted Charlotte to the company. With a background in facilities management, she appreciated OCS’s commitment to colleague growth and support. As a young professional entering the corporate world, Charlotte sought a company that would push her to grow while also caring about her progression. Additionally, she values working in a company that has a real impact on people’s daily lives, making OCS a perfect fit for her aspirations.

She describes the work environment and culture, particularly in the Ipswich office, as vibrant. She notes that the company is accepting in nature, as demonstrated by the diverse backgrounds and ages of colleagues. Charlotte appreciates the fair and respectful treatment of all colleagues, including cleaners who are often overlooked in other companies. She also highlights the inclusive and supportive culture, making it attractive to people seeking a dynamic and respectful work environment.

Her favourite moment at OCS isn’t a single event, but rather a period of transformation and growth. She loves watching the team expand with specialists across different areas and seeing the business evolve. Upon joining, OCS had minimal social media presence and an outdated website. Now, the company’s branding is more prominent than ever before and OCS is visible everywhere, from traffic to airports to museums and other destinations. Charlotte takes pride in her achievements and finds joy in seeing her colleagues succeed too. “I love other people being successful. That makes me super happy,” she says.

When asked what her advice would be for those considering on joining OCS, she points out the importance of staying positive, agile and open to new experiences in OCS’s fast-paced environment. She encourages new joiners to learn as much as possible and stresses the value of networking within the company, as there are many influential people whose stories and mentorship can significantly impact one’s career growth. “Networking is incredible! With over 130,000 colleagues at OCS, the opportunities for growth and learning are immense. Connecting with a diverse range of professionals can open doors to new opportunities and collaborations, and you never know, someone may mentor you” she adds.

Charlotte’s journey at OCS has been marked by continuous growth and learning. She has embraced opportunities to expand her knowledge beyond digital marketing, contributing to various aspects of the company’s marketing efforts. Her story is a remarkable testament to the supportive and dynamic environment at OCS, where employees are encouraged to take initiative and pursue their career aspirations.