Reaching your full potential through, determination and a good plan

By Luke Bryan, Learning Business Partners & Apprenticeships Manager, Saga Insurance

I want to share my journey in finding and developing my career path and stepping through life’s challenges as a neurodivergent.

Where it Started

If you have met me, you’ve probably noticed that I’m really short, well this is because, when I was born in 1990, I was a small child to the point doctors were concerned and wanted me to be on steroid treatment for the rest of my life. – however, my parents rejected this trial treatment (for me this was gift as most on the trail didn’t make it to 23). 

So, as you can imagine I was slow with my development and didn’t start talking till the age of 5 and was diagnosed with ADHD/Dyslexia at primary school and was given green glasses to support my reading and counseling for me for my behavior in class. This meant that I was taken out of lessons to be asked why I am disruptive class, why do I find it difficult to sit still and listen and why do I fidget. Looking back, I understand that not much was known around neurodiversity back then and the system did what it could at the time.

In primary school I encountered Mr. Tall (ironically, he was huge) and started to teach me how to read & write from memory. For those of you who know, know what this means!

Secondary school I was put in the supported class I.e., the laptop class and taught how to use the laptop spell check & grammar tools, so I could write as well as all the other kids. Great Right! When came to Exams I had to complete them by hand or have the tool supportive tools turned off. You guessed it, my grades spelt FUDGE.

I was told I am bloody awesome at sport, and if I’m going to achieve in life and succeed my only option is to lean into this. So, with this I went to college and studied to be fitness instruction and massage. The practical stuff was easy, but when it came to the theory side there was a lot of homework and revision plastered all over my bedroom walls like a detective trying to solve an impossible murder. But I did it I qualified, and I was buzzing, however no one was hiring as we entered a recession.

The Reset

Moving to our first flat, then second flat, getting married and having our first child & learning to drive. Trying to move out of mum & dads to start my life and get our first Flat, I Job hopped, different jobs within the retail and Catering industry. Thinking I was too sporty, cool, and just not the right fit to work in an office environment. But I knew I could give more and do more and make something myself and I am willing to prove I can, and I will!

So, I bit the bullet and took a chance to apply for an office job at Saga thinking it’ll tide me over until the fitness industry booms. But also thinking I was punching above my weight in terms of working in an office but wanted to give my all.

I was told I would be kept on file and 6 months later was on-boarded into FNOL; the Trainer was extremely supportive throwing in a few lunch and Thursday after-work sessions to get through training and I was successful and passed my probation.

 My Team Manager was supportive, I struggled with spelling certain locations when completing claim forms, so my manager did weekly spelling tests with me.

I identified opportunity for an apprenticeship in customer service to support what I do in FNOL and also included Math’s and English.

You guessed it, it was a struggle and again I found myself in extra sessions and late-night revision. My girlfriend, now wife, also threw in a few math’s quizzes, but I achieved this qualification.

I could now see there was a potential to develop a career I can do this, so popped off a few random applications then came across MST, multi-skilled team dealing with multiple departments. Here I thought would be a good role to join to find what technical route want to go down.

The Plan

As my second child arrive I would go to the gym at 5am, then onto breakfast club drop off, after-school club pick up’s. (My wife was full time Support Worker)/

I applied for MST twice and got second time round. It was within MST I found my passion for L&D, so I worked with my manager creating a development plan to get into L&D, then applied twice and got a secondment to L&D second time round.

For me this was it! I loved L&D, I love being able to support others to reach their goals and I was learning so much and about L&D, however due to the business climate at the time this secondment was nearly 2 years, and I had to briefly go back to MST for 8 months until the position came up where I was able to reapply and got a permanent contract.

Continuous Development

I worked towards multiple ever-changing development matrices, then another opportunity opened for me to complete and apprenticeship in L&D

As you can imagine, there were a lot more breakfast club drop offs, long workdays, after school pick up and late-night revision at the dining table, half way through the apprenticeship, unfortunately suffering large scale redundancies within the team we instantly went into a Lockdown/Pandemic - needing to transition to W.F.H with my wife being a key worker, Buying our first House, losing my father in-law and carrying out the usual early morning nursery drop offs and after-school pick up’s, I managed to complete my qualification, but in return, had a bit of midlife crisis and felt the need to learn how to ride motorcycle got full license.

With The Skills learnt from this apprenticeship and embedding these into my role I was later successful for the Learning Business Partner role first time!

Working with my current manager who has further supported my development and given me space to further explore my potential and capabilities, I have gone on to completing a professional Course in HR business Partnering, Studied, and qualified in a psychometric tool (WSA) and gone on to complete a qualification in story-line design.

What's Next

To be honest for me, I'm not sure what's next, but for now I can tell you, I love what I'm doing, being able to home in on my current skills and develop within my current role, whilst having the privilege of supporting our colleagues to learn, develop & grow and give back the opportunities I had.

I hope my story will help people know, no matter what labels you are given or what life throws at you, nothing can stop you reaching your full potential through, determination and a good plan.

With thanks to Luke Bryan for sharing your inspirational story.