For our next “DayMaker in 5” blog, we spoke to Eliza Barclay, DayMaker based in a multi-tenant office in Bristol. Eliza spoke with us about how her role ranges from supporting charity fundraisers to adjusting gym equipment, and how her background in customer service and musical theatre has shaped her work as a DayMaker.
What does a typical day look like for you?
Every day is completely different, but I have my core responsibilities. I’ll set up the front desk first thing, including preparing the fresh fruit we keep at reception. Then I move on to the gym, making sure everything’s tidy and all the equipment has been put away properly.
After that, I focus on the day’s activities, which can be varied – I help arrange meetings, events, and fundraisers throughout the building. We use an app to keep tenants updated on events, but also to give them access to meeting area bookings and direct contact with the facilities team. A big part of my job is keeping the app maintained and creating content to promote our events.
We try to do at least one fundraiser a month for a local cause, with our most recent one supporting the Avon Wildlife Trust for the Great Big Green Week. We worked with a group called Makers for Good Bristol, who sell handmade jewellery, art and baked goods, and 10 per cent of their proceeds were donated to the cause.
What was a key turning point or learning moment for you?
One thing I really love about this job is that there are so many different skills I’ve picked up in the last year I have worked for On Verve. For example, I manage the gym, which has a range of high-tech spaces, including a studio space. One day, the network dropped in the studio, and I had to put my “engineer hat” on to figure out how to reset it. It wasn’t something I’d ever dealt with before, but I sorted it, and it showed me a different side of facilities work that I hadn’t anticipated to pick up in this role.
I think that’s the unexpected part of this job. I came from a customer service and retail background, so dealing with people directly came naturally to me, but the technical side of learning new equipment, troubleshooting issues, and writing up reports has been a real learning curve. But I think that constant learning is also what makes the job so fulfilling; I’m always challenged.
How has being part of On Verve helped you develop, personally or professionally?
It’s given me a really varied skill set. I’ve managed charity events from start to finish, liaised directly with charities, and taken on more of the admin and promotional side of operations, alongside getting comfortable with new technology.
What stands out most is the confidence it’s given me. There have been so many moments where I’ve thought, ‘I’ve never done this before,’ and then just got on with it and learned. That’s grown my skills and my confidence at the same time, and it’s a really nice feeling to do something new and succeed at it.
How does your background help you be a great DayMaker?
I’ve always worked with people, mostly in customer service and retail, so I’ve developed a good grasp of how to approach different people and personalities. Alongside my work at On Verve, I run kids’ parties, which has further broadened how I approach interactions. I have always wanted to work with children. It is a joy and a challenge, and it has definitely taught me patience!
Having studied musical theatre at college and university, I know how to step into a new role and adapt to different scenarios, which is hugely beneficial in this role, where each day is different. Performing is a passion of mine, and I always treat each day as a new performance.
Looking back, each stage of my life has prepped me, in one way or another, for a role like this – working with all kinds of people, which I love.
What does being a DayMaker mean to you?
To me, it’s about being the person people know they can rely on, whatever they need on a given day. Whether that’s solving a problem, helping with something practical, or just being a friendly face to talk to, I try to figure out what matters to that person and become whatever it is they need in that moment.
I think that comes from genuinely caring about people and wanting to make their day a bit easier or better, even in small ways. Everyone’s version of help is different, so part of the role is recognising that and adjusting to it.
In a building like ours, with so many different companies and people coming and going, it can be hard for people to feel a real connection. As part of the wider facilities team, we are all incredibly passionate about the building and creating a community for our tenants. For me personally, sat at the intersection of everyone, it’s all about providing what people need from you on any given day, and learning to adapt when needed.
Want to hear more from Eliza? Watch her ‘day in the life’ video on Instagram.
At On Verve, we believe the way people feel in a workplace matters just as much as how it functions. If you would like to learn more about On Verve, read about our services, or get in touch with the team today.