Being able to use my skills to make sure our colleagues are getting the fairest pay and the best benefits we can afford is so gratifying. It beats analysing nappy data! My role also allows me to work from home without any distractions. Having the self-motivation to focus means I can be confident that my work is accurate and delivered on time.

Don’t feel trapped within a certain career route. Think about the skills you have and see if you can use them in a different role. Find a company to work for that has an open, fair and equitable pay structure. If you need to take a step back and focus on your family that’s okay too. I’ve been able to return to a career at a later stage. Look for a company that invests in everyone regardless of their age/personal circumstances and will support your career post kids. Get as much work experience as possible, (and encourage your kids to get some too), and try different projects/experiences within your role so you have something for your CV.

Reporting on the scale of online gambling across the world was particularly eye opening and ultimately resulted in better regulation and the promotion of gambling addiction helplines. I am lucky enough to have an ability to take the fear out of data, and presenting my research to teams that are uneasy with numbers is immensely satisfying. Seeing their understanding when presented with a chart rather than a table of numbers for example, and being able to provide accuracy around vague feelings is gratifying. I am also immensely proud to have been a part of First Central’s pay grading project which has seen us bring in a pay structure that’s much more open and fair for all.