Sarah Peak - Cumbria Careers Hub

Sarah  Peak

Why did you become an Enterprise Adviser?

“I want to support my local school and the young people to maximise their potential through the various options available to them in the business community in Cumbria.”

Tell us about your chosen career or career pathway to your current role

“After my school I went to college and did a BTEC (business studies and travel and tourism) alongside working on a YTS (youth training scheme) with Thomas Cook. I stayed in the travel industry for 10 years working in Spain and Italy, but felt it was the right time to revisit college in my mid 20’s and spent 3 years studying for the Chartered Institute of Marketing’s Post Graduate Diploma in marketing in the evenings.

This changed my career path into a marketing role working for British Airways then into FMCG (fast moving consumer goods). I worked in the food industry in Manchester and Dublin but moved into a commercial role as a buyer for manufacturers and supermarkets.

20 years later I decided to set up my own business, a cheese and wine shop in Cheshire, which I grew into a successfully business.

I relocated to Cumbria in 2019 and after a year of working as a business advisor I took up the role of Export Manager helping businesses in Cumbria to export their goods and services.

My career path is not linear, and I have worked across a variety of sectors in roles from sales to marketing and procurement to an entrepreneur and now I am in a public sector role.”

What careers advice would you give to your 16 year-old self?

“Learn from your experiences, take the opportunities, you will succeed!.”

What do you like/love best about living and working in Cumbria?

“Every day I look at the fells and the beauty of the county and really appreciate it.

Working with fantastic colleagues and businesses who want to succeed is extremely motivating.”