Emmylou Ferry about her growth and development at First Consulting
What does it really mean to work as a consultant for First Consulting? Who are the people that contribute to the firm’s success? And what makes them deliver excellence in the work coupled with so much fun, ambition, and pride? In a series of interviews with Consultancy.uk, employees of First Consulting provide their take on the matter. The series is kicked off by Emmylou Ferry, Business Consultant at First Consulting.
How did you start working for First Consulting?
After graduating from university, I spent one year working for a development charity where I lead a team of junior business consultants in Accra, Ghana. The role introduced me to the consulting industry and drove me to begin looking for a position as a consultant in the UK. I successfully secured a role in an IT consultancy specialising in delivering bespoke training sessions to end users following implementation of a large corporate systems. I really enjoyed the job, as it introduced me to multiple sectors, different IT platforms, and exposed me to a variety of implementation methods. Whilst I loved the company and the role was varied, it lacked the pure problem-solving aspect of consultancy work which drew me to the career in the first place.
Fortunately, I stumbled across an advert for First Consulting. The core values really resonated with me, I particularly connected with ‘Sharp, Daring, and Fun’. I began researching the company, reading case studies and LinkedIn articles. It quickly became clear that consultants at First are driven by solving complex problems, together with clients, in a positive, straightforward way. I applied online almost immediately and 4 interviews later after a thorough but interesting recruitment process, I was pleased to receive the call from Jon Nelmes [the firm’s Managing Partner in the UK] to inform me that my application had been successful!
That evening I went to meet the team for some drinks in Borough market, where I heard first-hand about some of the projects my new colleagues were working on at First Consulting UK. The range of work at First coupled with the calibre of clients was really impressive, especially for a relatively new player in the UK consulting market. Not only did that evening confirm the remarkable work that the company is involved with, it was also proof of the positive and down to earth culture at First that I had heard so much about.
What does your working week look like?
Since starting at First Consulting, every week has been different. To begin with, I spent a few weeks in the Netherlands as a part of the Business Technology bootcamp. This was followed by the infamous annual winter sport trip to Austria, where days were spent exploring the slopes of Biberwier and evenings enjoying après-ski with over 100 of my new colleagues. Project work is full-on with lots to learn but as a new Business Consultant, I always work with a more senior colleague. This means that the learning curve is steep, but the environment is supportive, and there is always support on hand to ensure the work we deliver to our clients is of the highest quality.
How would you describe First Consulting in one sentence?
An exciting, young company, made up of sharp and straightforward consultants who are all driven to apply intelligent solutions to improve their client’s operations.
For more information on First Consulting and job opportunities, see the firm's company profile on Consultancy.uk.
Related: First Consulting's Managing Partner outlines plans for the future.