Kay is responsible for visiting new properties to give vendors advice on marketing their homes. She also places new homes on the market; including taking photographs and measurements and drafting brochures.  She is responsible for reviewing property marketing progress and securing price reductions where appropriate. What’s more; she draws up probate and landlord valuation reports, is occasional cover for the front office negotiating team and co-ordinates morning briefings, attendance at the sales steering committee and branch management meetings.

On leaving school, Kay worked in administration - moving to a position in the delivery of training when she was 20 years of age.  After having her family, she worked for 2 years in estate agency before returning to her training role, eventually becoming self-employed and delivering customer service training.  To supplement employment from her training business, Kay joined Grisdales in 2009 as weekend staff - taking some time off when Cockermouth was flooded.  She returned to Grisdales in 2010 as Lettings Negotiator and performed this task for 2 years before once again returning to a training contract.  She has now been working as a Valuer since January 2015 based at the Cockermouth office.

Kay has qualifications in management, coaching, training and development to Level 5 and is working towards her Level 3 award in Sales of Residential property.

Kay moved this year to Harrington and is enjoying walking along the coast and creating a new seaside garden.  In her spare time, she enjoys meditation, yoga, fitness, travel, reading and dance.  Kay is a mother and a ‘Young Nana’.

An interesting fact about Kay is that she has been in Che Guevara’s bedroom!

Photo taken by the side of The Toy Shop, Cockermouth

Laura is responsible for managing the Whitehaven Lettings Team and for carrying Grisdales rental valuations to bring in new business.

Laura worked at a local solicitor for 4 years as an Office Junior and in credit control role, before becoming a Legal Secretary.  Laura then took a four year career break to bring up her young family.

She started working at Grisdales in 2007 as a Weekend Receptionist in the Cockermouth office before moving over to the Whitehaven Office in the same role.  She then moved over to lettings as a Lettings Assistant and worked her way up to be Lettings Manager when her manager at the time decided on a change of career.   Laura says that she thoroughly enjoy her job as Lettings Manager as she learns something new each day and every day is completely different. She has a strong team working with her which gives her the confidence to go out a sell Grisdales’ services to the best of her ability.

Laura’s family is the most important part of her life; she has 3 children, 2 boys and a girl and a long term partner who she says has the ‘patience of a saint’.  Added into the mix is their crazy Shihtzu pup Ted.

Photo taken on the steps of Gough & Co, Whitehaven

Wendy is one of the first points of contact in the office for customers; she arranges viewings, which she then follows up and processes applications. She is responsible for drawing up tenancy agreements and all the relevant documentation.

Wendy was educated locally and obtained several Certificates of Secondary Education, later gaining two O levels, a technical award in Information and Records Management, a Level Three NVQ in Business and Administration and a HNC in Business. She has a wide and varied employment background with lots of experience; she has been a hairstylist, a building society clerk, worked within the NHS as an HR administration assistant and PA to the Head of Midwifery and Maternity Ward, the Front of House Receptionist at a Local Mining Museum and was in retail store management for Woolworths for eleven years. She has also held various roles within Grisdales.

Wendy’s hobbies include reading James Patterson, Stephen King and any classic novels over and over! She loves to walk out on the fells with her husband and Lakeland Terrier, Oscar, when her arthritis permits!  Wendy spends a lot of her spare time with her family and friends and loves to socialise, just as much as she enjoys her own company. She was born at Kells, raised on Bransty, lived at Lowca and now lives in Hensingham. Wendy has great local knowledge and is very passionate about all things Whitehaven and very proud of our “la’al” quaint gem of a town.

Photo taken outside the steps of 14 Church Street, Whitehaven

I have been in retail management for the last 8 years after Graduating in 2009 in Business Management and Applied Social Science, during this time starting a family. Joining Grisdales has given me the long awaited opportunity to pursue a challenging and rewarding career. I have a passion and drive for customer service and getting results.

I am from Whitehaven and having the Lakes on our doorstep makes me a happy girl. I'm married to a Whitehaven man who also shares the same outdoors interests as well as enjoying Rugby - although I think that came with signing on the dotted line when I married him.
We love spending our spare time as a family in the Lakes or attending rugby fixtures.

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In her role as Property Portfolio Manager, Catherine works closely with landlords and tenants.  She undertakes inventories and inspections when people let properties and carries out periodic property inspections.  Catherine also undertakes some computer data input when a new tenant moves into a property.

Her first ever job was working in Boots the Chemist, where she trained to be a Pharmacy Assistant. Catherine worked there for nearly 9 years, followed by a position in a doctor’s surgery as a receptionist.  She then moved to work at a local nuclear facility, where she worked in the drawing registry.  Catherine has had several admin roles, including working at Westlakes, where she was the Receptionist and dealt with sourcing houses to rent for the staff that came from abroad to work in the local area. This is where she got her first interest in Property and where she gained experience in dealing with checkout inspections.

Catherine started working for Grisdales in January 2016 as a Property Portfolio Manager and she is enjoying the challenge.

Catherine lives in Workington and she enjoys reading at night to relax and unwind after a busy day in the office. She loves to cook and enjoys many dishes from different countries and loves to try out new recipes.  Catherine used to play the guitar and the Irish tin whistle; her family comes from a musical background and used to sing altogether in the folk mass in Ireland.

Photo taken leaning on the harbourside railings, Whitehaven

Ailsa provides admin support to the lettings team in our Whitehaven office; providing high quality customer service to landlords, contractors & tenants.

Ailsa previously worked for a high street bank for 14 years and the local authority for years undertaking a variety of roles, before she joined Grisdales in 2012 in the lettings team.

Ailsa lives in West Cumbria and has 1 daughter.  In her spare time you can find her enjoying holidays abroad, in her garden or out and about walking.

Photo taken sat on the harbourside wall, Whitehaven

Andrea’s role is in the refurbishment of sales and rental properties.  She deals with all aspects of repairs and liaises between landlords, tenants and contractors. Andrea also organises CP12’s to be carried out on all managed properties and carries out general admin duties.

After having her children, Andrea worked in retail for several years until she thought it was time for a change! She attended night classes and gained her qualifications in word processing, then applied for the weekend position at Grisdales Whitehaven office 12 years ago. Andrea’s role was in sales at that time and after a while she moved to lettings, which she has been in ever since.

Andrea is married with four children and three Jack Russell’s and currently lives at Moresby Parks. She loves walking their “fur-babies”, travel and all aspects of music (whether it be listening to or going to gigs), reading and socialising with her family and friends. Both Andrea’s husband and herself enjoy property development/refurbishment and always have a project on the go. Now, they are extending their own property, which they’re excited about!

Photo taken sat on the whale tail bench at the harbourside, Whitehaven

I am originally from Maryport however I now live in Workington with my soon to be husband and 3 year old daughter, who is full of life.  Most of my time is dedicated to my family, however I enjoy the occasional music concert, socialising with friends and crafting. I’ve taught myself to knit (however far from the professional) and have refurbished several small pieces of furniture.

I returned to college to study Business Management two years ago and I’m due to graduate soon.  Prior to this, I worked in the NHS as a receptionist, did 8 years in retail, briefly at Sellafield, done the occasional mystery shop and cleaned lodges in the Lake District.  Now I have finished my studies, I hope to be able to throw myself into revamping the stockpile of old furniture I have accumulated over the past 2 years.

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