Pioneering Care Partnership chief executive Carol Gaskarth was the ‘Getting To Know You’ feature in the 73rd issue of Aycliffe Business magazine…
Position: Chief executive
Company/organisation: Pioneering Care Partnership (PCP)
Age: Forever 27!
From: South Shields
Lives: Newton Aycliffe
1: What was your favourite subject at school?
A: Probably Maths or business studies, but really my favourite thing at school was running the tuck shop and talking!
2: Who was your childhood hero, and why?
A: I’m not sure I had one. My mind is like a butterfly and it floats off too much to pin down one hero!
3: How did you get to where you are now?
A: Watching how hard my parents worked and how resilient they were helped me grow into a strong independent woman. I wasn’t particularly academic, so went down the YTS route with placements at the council and then Bishop Auckland College. I eventually landed in a community role, that’s when I found what I really loved. In 2002 I joined PCP and I’ve been in my current role for 12 years, and I still go to work excited at the prospect of what the day might hold.
4: Which is your favourite organisation on Aycliffe Business Park and why (excluding your own)?
A: Ooh that’s tough, there are so many great businesses to choose from. Probably The Work Place, it’s a great space to meet, hang out or find a quiet corner to work from, the team are welcoming and can’t do enough for you.
5: Which Aycliffe business or individual do you tip for future success?
A: That’s an even harder question! I think the new Community Hub in the town centre will be a huge success. Lifeline Community Action has done a fabulous job taking an idea and making it a reality.
6: What’s the best business decision you ever made?
A: To partner with the ‘big players’, in my world this is the NHS. It’s been a tough partnership, but we’ve learnt so much about how each other work, our cultures and brought this together to truly integrate what we do. Our relationship is still going strong.
7: What’s the worst decision you’ve ever made?
A: Probably overpromoting someone. I quickly learnt that just because someone is good at their job, it doesn’t mean they can cope at a more strategic level; leadership doesn’t come naturally to everyone.
8: If you could change one thing about your organisation, what would it be?
A: The car park! I know that sounds daft, but honestly my organisation is wonderful, forward-thinking, happy to embrace change and try things out, but the car park is too small and needs an overhaul.
9: Are you an early riser or a night owl?
A: A bit of both, I like to be up early to catch up on emails and paperwork, but if I need to concentrate on a report or tender I prefer to work through the night.
10: What is your business mantra?
A: Make time for fun and in the immortal words of Wham!, “Enjoy What You Do”.
11: What advice would you give to a small startup?
A: Be a sponge; listen to others experience, pause and reflect regularly, follow your head and heart equally but be true to your idea or concept.
12: What does the future look like for you?
A: More of the same, but with a shift over time to retire or move to consultancy work. My husband, Andy, retired a couple of years ago and I am a little jealous, particularly when the sun is shining.
13: What does the future look like for your organisation?
A: PCP never stands still, so new services at the Pioneering Care Centre, supporting Together 21 to hopefully become a Regional Centre of Excellence for Down syndrome. More expansion for outreach projects, hopefully with new day services in Seaham and Stockton starting soon.
14: What would you say to the Prime Minister if you saw him on Aycliffe Business Park?
A: Review the National Curriculum, allow flexibility for a skills-based curriculum, including basic life skills such as listening, self-awareness, lateral thinking and problem solving. Also fix the mental health support for young people so they can build resilience; they are our employees of the future.
15: Which is your favourite local charity?
A: Obviously PCP, our mission of ‘health, wellbeing and learning for all’ gives us the flexibility to deliver lots of different projects and services. I also love working with others and helping out where I can – Missed A Beat, Neville Community Centre, Sisters of Support and Bridge Creative are all fab.
16: Which is your favourite local restaurant?
A: I love The County at Aycliffe Village and The Bay Horse at Middridge, both nice, relaxed pubs with decent food.
17: What would be your ideal evening meal?
A: Probably steak with a jacket potato, salad and a good bottle of red wine. Followed by Cadbury Dairy Milk, or CDM as we call it!
18: What do you like to do in your spare time?
A: Who doesn’t enjoy a nice holiday? Whether it’s with friends or family or me, Andy and Robson (our Beagle) it is great to get away for a change of scenery.
19: What is your favourite film, and who is your favourite actor?
A: My favourite film is Chicago (my husband can’t stand it, whereas I could watch it on repeat). And my favourite actor changes all the time – Helen Mirren in MobLand was great.
20: What would you like to see more of?
A: Small acts of kindness. If everyone made a concerted effort to be nice as we go through our day, society and communities would be less lonely, happier and ultimately healthier. Pretty simple, but it can go a long way.