Inside Unit4 – Q&A with our Corporate Communications team
At Unit4, our people are at the heart of everything we do. From coming up with brilliant ideas to delivering value creatively and passionately to our customers, our people shape how we succeed. Our “People First” philosophy means that building an extraordinary environment in which our people can thrive is vital, enabling everyone to make a positive impact, with the opportunity to develop.
With ambitions to be the leading global mid-market Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) company for enterprise resource planning (ERP), there is always a lot going on at Unit4, and nowhere is that more true than within the communications team! From internal and external events to significant announcements and acquisitions, there is undoubtedly plenty to communicate and our Corporate Communications colleagues are dedicated to keeping everyone informed and engaged.
The team works together across Public Relations, Social Media, and Internal Communications to help Unit4’s audiences understand the company’s mission and values, and share relevant news from across the business.
For this new Inside Unit4 Q&A, we had an interesting chat with Unit4’s Corporate Communications team - Kate, Eric, Lisa, Salma, Carrie, Helen, and Cecilia. They told us about what they enjoy the most about working at Unit4, the best experiences they have had during their time in the business, and more.
What do you enjoy most about working at Unit4?
Kate: It sounds like a bit of a cliché, but the people are great! Unit4 is a busy place so there is always a new project to get stuck into, which means you are constantly learning, navigating your way around the organization, and collaborating with new colleagues. It’s true to say that I look at my calendar every day and look forward to what’s coming up and who I will work with.
Salma: The work environment. Everyone here is very helpful and supportive, which means a lot to me as I am very early in my career. I started as an intern, and unlike some of my previous internship experiences, I feel that my work here has always been valued, from the beginning. I have been given responsibilities, and great projects to work on. I have an amazing mentor, a great team and every day is a learning journey. What more could I ask for?
Helen: There are two main things - first, I really enjoy the freedom of working at Unit4. I’m given autonomy, both in what I do and where I do it. Of course, there are goals, objectives, and deadlines that need to be met, but the way I structure my day is down to me. Second, the people I work with. Nothing motivates me more than working with exceptional people. Great teamwork spurs you on and raises your game.
Cecilia: The challenges and the opportunity to constantly develop and grow and, of course, to work on important and challenging projects that directly benefit people's lives.
What is your favorite thing about being part of the Unit4 Communications team?
Cecilia: My amazing colleagues, of course! For me, this is the best part of my role. Everyone contributes to each other's well-being. We lift each other up when needed and we also have a lot of fun together!
Lisa: It has to be the wonderful, fun, and talented team I work with. We are like a little family who lives in a bubble of trust. Everyone brings something different which is essential otherwise creativity will be stifled. We bounce ideas off each other, we laugh together, learn from one another, provide support if it’s needed, and act as another pair of eyes on any copy that needs writing or reviewing. We are small yet mighty, like Aphrodite #smallyetmightylikeaphrodite
Kate: My colleagues, of course… but, not only that, in comms, we are privileged to work on strategic projects across the business, with multiple stakeholders, so there is plenty of variety – never a dull moment!
What is the main lesson you have learned during your time in this business?
Eric: Being at a predominantly remote working company, I have learned about personal accountability and figuring out how to balance my time wisely, given the amount of freedom bestowed to a remote worker.
Helen: It’s to be ready for anything. It’s essential to have plans, so the majority of work is scheduled, but the nature of communications is that you need to be able to respond and adapt quickly as things happen.
Carrie: Having only been here a few weeks, I think it’s to dig in, meet people, and don’t be afraid to offer your opinion, as it’s always gratefully received.
What has been your best experience whilst working at Unit4?
Lisa: One of my best experiences relates to one of my personal goals and that is being a mentor – an opportunity that Unit4 supports and affords me to do. Helping someone else at the start of their career is an honour really. Providing the guidance they need, being there to answer any of their questions or how they can deal with tricky situations, suggesting courses to take, further reading that should invest their time in – the list is endless. I love it.
Kate: As a relatively new joiner, I will say that the onboarding was very comprehensive and I was certainly made to feel very welcome. Unit4 has a very nice feel about it and, even though most of my time is spent working remotely, I do feel very connected. There is a strong culture and, even though I am not in an office every day, I very much feel part of a team. I have been fortunate to meet a lot of people in person and would say the highlight thus far has been spending 3 days in person with our team and getting to know each other better. It is difficult to single out just one experience as it’s all been great!
Salma: My internship. I started it exactly one week after submitting my MBA dissertation, so before I even graduated. And as cliché as this might sound, it has been the best professional opportunity I could ask for. I was, and still am, learning every day. I have been involved in different aspects of communications such as Internal Comms, PR, and Social Media. After only six months, I got promoted and became a full-time employee, handling social media with the coolest manager, Eric. I haven't even been here for a full year, yet I can already see my career growing thanks to the opportunities Unit4 has given me.
Cecilia: I have been here for 9 years, so I can say that a lot has happened! Overall, I would say that it is the whole journey from working locally at first, in Sweden only, to now working globally and having the whole world as a field of work.
Carrie: The fabulous feedback and thanks I’ve already received from my stakeholders for the projects I’ve supported. It’s so nice to work for a company with a good culture of recognition and gratitude for the work you do.
What are you most excited about for the future at Unit4?
Eric: After being at the company for almost a year, I am excited to see how we can further develop our social media strategy, in order to separate us from our B2B peers.
Lisa: Unit4’s growth and vision– not just in terms of £$€ but the product roadmap, seeing our customers and their customers become successful. I’m also excited to see what direction we take, the new talent we bring into the Unit4 family and of course all of the positive press coverage.
Helen: Having 40 years’ heritage, Unit4 has a great foundation, reputation, and customer base – but I’m really excited about what the future holds in terms of growth, acquisitions, products, new customers and the opportunities that these changes will bring to people at Unit4.
What is your advice for anyone thinking about joining the company?
Eric: Go for it! We are a welcoming bunch. You will learn a lot and have the opportunity to be involved in many different projects that will help you expand your skills, through projects you may not have been able to work on otherwise.
Helen: Do it, you won’t regret it. You’ll get to work with knowledgeable people who are welcoming and enthusiastic, at an organization that’s really going places. You’ll have a voice and the opportunity to really make a difference.
Salma: Honestly, just do it! You will learn, you will grow and you will definitely make great connections.
Carrie: If you’re looking for a company with fantastic people and an exciting future ahead, then do it!
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Our growing cloud company is hiring in a range of new roles across multiple departments. If you are interested in joining the team and being part of the global Unit4 family, head to our careers site to explore our current opportunities, and to learn more about working here: https://bit.ly/33EPplf
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