"MEET OUR TEAM" Series Interview Questions

OPERATIONS & TRAINING MANAGER

Name: Sophie Ford

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Q: What brought you to your current role here in Camp Beaumont?

I began with Camp Beaumont as a Camp Manager in the UK and was fortunate enough to be offered the opportunity to launch our first Multi Activity camp in Asia, back in 2022. In doing so I developed a real passion for the product and was eager to see the brand expand and grow in new territories. Since then, i have moved into the role of Operations & Training Manager.

Q: Tell us more about what you do as an Operations Manager.

The role of an Operations & Training Manager is very diverse. As a team we work closely with other departments ensuring that day-to-day activities align with the organisation's goals, while driving efficiency and maintaining high-quality standards across the brand.  

I am also responsible for overseeing & managing Camp Beaumonts training & development programmes to ensure that employees are equipped with the right skills and knowledge to perform well in their roles.

Q: What is your favourite part of your job?

The best part of my role is being able to see both the product itself & our team members grow. I love travelling to different locations / countries and seeing our camps in action! In doing so I have met some amazing people, experienced new cultures & tried some delicious food!

Q: How are your jobscopes different between the camp season and when there’s no ongoing camps?

Out of camp season I work a little more remotely. I work behind the scenes to prepare, develop & plan for upcoming programmes. In this time, I work closely with our host schools, customer service & marketing team, along with recruitment to make sure we are ready for the next camp period. During camp season, I work across different locations; visiting camps to observe and audit the day - day operations. I deliver on site training to enhance experiences & strive to develop our team members to upskill them in their existing roles. Prior to the camp season I lead & deliver various training courses for teams across each of our locations.

Q: Safeguarding policies are an essential part of staff training and camp procedures. Can you tell us more about what safeguarding entails in CBA?

Safeguarding refers to the actions and measures taken to protect children from harm, abuse, neglect, and exploitation. At Camp Beaumont we put the children & young people at the heart of everything we do. We have robust practices in place & a well-designed training programme to ensure our teams are fully equipped to best support those attending our camps. Our teams are trained to identify & report any cause for concern regarding the wellbeing or safety of a young person. We strive to provide enriching experiences in a positive & safe environment and work tirelessly to create a positive experience for all.

Q: Apart from our team at the frontline working in camps, who else do you work with that supports CBA to be where it is today?

Programme Development: I work closely with the In2action team to enhance our programme offerings & develop new & exciting activities.

Global opportunities: I also work closely with the UK recruitment team to build volunteer & working opportunities in Asia for UK citizens.

UKLC: UKLC provides our highly qualified English teachers over the summer period. I work with them to ensure all team members are delivering to the highest of standards. This includes aligning training programmes to prepare the UKLC team for their placement with us.

Q: What is something our campers can look forward to this summer?

There is so much to look forward to this summer! We have the launch of British Summer camps – an English immersive programme including activities that are deeply rooted from British culture. There are new & exclusive activities for our Multi Activity & English Language camps including Laser Tag! And the launch of our new STEAM activities – from hands-on science experiments to nature exploration, construction & engineering challenges & more… we are sure to have something for everyone!

As well as our enriching & exciting activities, campers can also look forward to fostering new friendships, discovering new talents, and gaining confidence as well as immersing themselves with new cultures.

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