Sabbatical Series: Helene Usherwood

Since the beginning, AQ has striven to have an attractive and inclusive benefits package to ensure our staff has everything they need to bring their whole selves to work.

We place important emphasis on how you can develop your career at AQ, offering continued personal development through training, mentoring and giving our team members every opportunity to be involved in different aspects of business delivery.

Our business cannot thrive if our team members aren't supported, so our benefits package has been designed to achieve a healthy work/life balance, and one of the most attractive aspects is the 1 month fully paid sabbatical after 5 years service.

Helene Usherwood , one of the first partners to join AQ, took her sabbatical in September. She tells us of her month travelling across Europe and her experience working at Anderson Quigley for the last 5 years.

"Where are you going?"

"Oh, landing in Barcelona, then heading to Montpellier, Aix-en-Provence, Nice, Milan, Bologna, Florence and ending in Rome!"

"That sounds amazing… and you are doing it all on your own?"

"Some of it, meeting friends and family along the way and then my husband is coming out to join me for the final leg in Rome."

Describing what I would be doing with my month's sabbatical from Anderson Quigley often went like this. People were amazed that I had been given a whole month off from work to do with as I pleased. They were also amazed that I was "brave" enough to go travelling on my own, mainly by train, across Europe. Mostly, people were thrilled for me and wanted to know if they could come.

Being given a month's paid sabbatical after five years at Anderson Quigley has been the greatest benefit given by any employer I have ever worked for. Having worked since leaving University, I have not had such an extended period of leave, even in between jobs.

Since travelling has always been an important part of my identity, I knew that I wanted to do something a bit different. Having seen my nephew enjoy Interrailing earlier in the Summer, I decided to do the same. Seeing so much in the time I spent away was amazing. Visiting numerous museums, heritage sites, architectural wonders and experiencing multiple cultures and cuisines was inspiring.

I knew having this time was a privilege, and I didn't take it for granted. The ability to have the time to think about all those things that sometimes you don't get to do in everyday life, not to have to chase the clock, but focus on the day in front of me and wonder who or what I would meet and see was motivating and exciting.

Seeing friends and family along the way was also something of an unexpected treat; spending time with my brother, just the two of us, was something we had not done in years, and I will cherish that for a long time to come. Having my husband join me for the last leg in Rome was the perfect ending; he has been my greatest supporter throughout, holding down the fort at home whilst his wife went exploring!

I am home now and back at work. It's been such an adventure, and I thank Anderson Quigley (deeply and truly) for affording me this opportunity. Knowing that colleagues were looking after things back at base was a huge comfort, and whilst I am trying not to be that travel bore, I'll happily share any of my tales and recommendations if asked.

It's good to be back – honestly! – Anderson Quigley has been a big part of my life for the last five or so years, and I am excited about what the future holds and playing my part in developing our growing team. Working for a company that looks after its staff daily and through its brilliant benefits makes me very proud; I wish more companies were so generous and lived their values as expertly as Anderson Quigley does.

You can contact Helene at [email protected] or via LinkedIn.