Human Resources
Kerry Parr
I suppose when I look back at my career, I have always taken a few risks, but each time they have completely paid off. And buying a Puddle Ducks franchise definitely has. I am my own boss, I get the chance to run a successful business, I do something that I am extremely proud of, and finally think is worthwhile, and best of all, I manage to do it all around my young family, which was my main driver for buying the business to begin with.
I graduated with a degree in Town Planning and immediately entered a career in Sales (hmm, no link at all!). I worked for a major food manufacturer with recognised worldwide brands, and worked my way up from a Sales Representative, into head office and finally into National Account Management. I became a Business Manager, looking after a team of National Account Managers, managing the main UK high street retailers. It was all about relationship building, sales targets, business planning, new product launches and strategic plans. I loved being in sales, but my experience of leading a team led me to changing the direction of my career completely, and moving into Human Resources.
So at the age of 30, I took a big gamble, and moved out of Sales into Human Resources, getting to grips with employment law, leadership development and training, organisational change and major business restructuring. And I loved it!! Within 2 years I became Head of Human Resources for the food manufacturer I worked for, with a team of 8 HR professionals. I reported directly into the Board of Directors and every day was a challenge, which I thrived on. I then left the food industry and joined a large Insurance firm as the HR Business Partner, working alongside the Finance Director creating the future strategy of the Finance function. My life consisted of a lot of travel, many days in London, board meetings and team management.
I then became pregnant with my first child. Motherhood completely changed me, no career could ever compete with my baby girl, and when I returned to work when she was one, I knew my heart wasn’t in the Corporate world anymore. I then had my son very soon afterwards. I started Puddle Ducks lessons with both of my children when they were only a few weeks old, and I loved their weekly lessons, and always said to my husband that I would love to run a Puddle Ducks business for a living, never thinking that it would become a reality. But when the opportunity arose to buy the business I was a customer of, I didn’t hesitate for one second.
Whilst running my Puddle Ducks franchise is extremely hard work, and sometime a rollercoaster of a journey, it is the BEST decision I ever made. I love what I do, I love the team that work for me, I love seeing what our children achieve in the water, and I love that I can do all of this flexibly around my family. How many other jobs can you say that about??? I get to combine my experience of sales, team leadership, customer service and negotiation into one job, which is something I only dreamed about a couple of years ago. If you asked my whether you should become a Puddle Ducks franchisee, I would say "Yes, Definitely!" Expect hard work, but you’ll get huge rewards, not only financial, but also personal.
Kerry owns the Chester and Liverpool franchise
