For our latest ‘DayMaker in 5’ blog, we spoke with Niamh Sibbald, DayMaker at an investment management company’s office in Stirling, Scotland. Niamh spoke with us about the events and competitions she leads, and how her background in hospitality and care has shaped how she builds relationships.
What does a typical day look like for you?
My day usually starts at the front reception desk, where I might issue temporary passes to colleagues who have forgotten theirs or need their access reactivated after time away, ensure visitors are checked in correctly, and contact their hosts to let them know they have arrived.
I am the first person to greet our colleagues and visitors, so it is my role to create a warm, friendly impression. I always welcome everyone with a smile, helping visitors and new starters feel comfortable and at ease from the moment they walk through the door. It allows me to build relationships across the business. We can have hundreds of people arriving at the front desk, even on the quieter office days. So, in the nearly two years I’ve been in this role, I’ve memorised many faces and names, especially those who have an extra moment to stop and chat with us.
The rest of my day involves administrative work that keeps the office running, including updating our DayMaker whiteboards, organising travel for colleagues visiting Scotland, and managing incoming and outgoing post.
I am also the subject matter expert for events, so a large part of my role is spent planning and coordinating at least one event a month. Recent activities include a World Cup event series featuring quizzes and posters that I collaborated on with another DayMaker in Bath. I even got to design a finger football miniature tournament, with a raffle prize for the top score. None of that was something our client had asked for, but that little bit of competition really brought our people together.
What has been a key learning moment for you as a DayMaker?
Every day brings opportunities to make a difference. Going that extra mile to make the impossible possible is one of the things I love most about being a DayMaker, and I really get to do that with my dream team, Dori and Carly, in Scotland, collaborating with our fantastic national team spanning the North and South too.
While the larger projects are exciting, sometimes it’s the smaller gestures that have the biggest impact. For example, when it’s someone’s birthday, we make them feel special with a card and some cakes. We’ve made this into an orderable service through our whiteboards, so colleagues can raise a ticket with us to arrange it. But my role is also about anticipating needs, like on a hot day, when we bring out our ice cream trolley to hand out sweet treats. Whether complex or simple, there is always a way to make someone’s day a little brighter.
One moment that has really stayed with me involved an M&G colleague who was going through a difficult time in her personal life. We wanted to show her our support, so we went to a local shop and bought her some flowers before she came into the office.
When we presented them to her, she was genuinely touched by the gesture. Seeing the impact such a small act of kindness had on her was incredibly rewarding. Her reaction made our day just as much as it made hers, and it reminded me how powerful thoughtful gestures can be.
How has being part of On Verve helped you develop, either personally or professionally?
Being part of On Verve has taught me a great deal about the professional corporate world, and I’ve realised how much I love it: helping people, building relationships, and creating positive experiences for others.
I am always looking for opportunities to learn and develop, and I welcome constructive feedback because I know it helps me grow both personally and professionally. Taking on event planning and delivery was a big responsibility because we start advertising before every detail is confirmed, so if the plan isn’t ready in time, the whole event might not go ahead. I have to carefully coordinate delivery across multiple sites with other DayMakers, developing concepts while keeping a close eye on the timeline.
On Verve has pushed me outside my comfort zone and encouraged me to take on these new challenges, which has broadened my skill set and helped build my confidence. It’s also helped my organisational skills flourish – you can’t have a successful event without them!
How does your background help you be a great DayMaker?
My first role after leaving school was a marketing apprenticeship, which provided the foundation of my creative skills, like brainstorming ideas for events, designing communications and making office displays.
I also previously worked at a famous five-star hotel, where I served the successful business leaders and celebrities of Scotland. Providing exceptional service was always expected, and that experience taught me discipline, teamwork, attention to detail, and the importance of delivering a consistently high standard of customer service.
Another role that had a significant impact on me was working in a care home for elderly residents. I loved that role because it meant making people smile and laugh. Although the shifts were long, I always went home feeling fulfilled knowing I had helped them crack a smile and brightened their day.
Listening to residents’ stories taught me what it truly means to listen and pay attention to people. Remembering details about someone’s life and bringing them up in future conversations can make them feel valued and appreciated. That is a skill I still use every day as a DayMaker, and I believe it helps me build genuine connections with people.
What does being a DayMaker mean to you?
I am a naturally outgoing person, so I really enjoy being around people, getting my energy from talking to them, and building up new relationships. If I’m being honest, sometimes I probably talk a little too much!
Being a DayMaker has come to mean a lot to me because of the people I’ve met and the relationships I’ve built, including with my amazing colleagues Dori and Carly. I honestly don’t know what I’d do without them.
I look forward to coming into work, and the days always seem to fly by. Even when things get busy or stressful, I just love what I do. Making people feel welcome, comfortable, and valued from the moment they walk through the door is rewarding in itself. Knowing that I’ve made someone’s day a little better, a little brighter, is what makes this role so special to me.
At On Verve, we know that workplaces are brought to life by people who care, and Niamh is a brilliant example of that. Read the previous blogs in the series – Jessica Albuquerque, Hristina Hristova, and Eliza Barclay.
If you’d like to find out more about what we do, take a look at our services, or get in touch with the team to see how we could support your workplace.