Get to Know: Our Receptionist

 

Science parks are home to world-leading scientific organisations and institutions, as a biotech hub, we have organisations onsite that span the entire sector from agri-tech to healthcare. Nestled in an 80-acre parkland setting, York Biotech Campus (YBC) has plenty of space for our vibrant and dynamic community.

Housing a diverse range of occupiers, as well as a purpose-built events space, means we always have an array of interesting and exciting guests coming to campus. With international delegates arriving for a symposium one day and visiting scientists collaborating with occupiers on site the next, it’s important that there’s always someone on hand to meet and greet them, such as our Receptionist, Diane Harper.

Acting as our first point of contact for all visitors to the site, Diane joined us in December last year having previously worked in hospitality and leisure. Warm and welcoming, Diane greets our guests, making sure their visits get off to a great start.

Diane has been with us for over half a year now, so we caught up with her to find out how she’s settling into her role.

What does a typical day look like for you?

“My day to day revolves around meeting and greeting visitors, helping them with any queries they may have, from giving people directions to booking taxis, and more generally ensuring our guests have a fantastic visit. My responsibilities also include looking after the helpdesk, giving support to occupiers, assisting them in booking meeting rooms and helping them navigate general site enquiries.

“I sometimes assist Arcus, our facilities management team when necessary, as well as providing support to the estates teams during conferences. I also look after the communal areas in the atrium, checking the water dispensers and keeping the tables tidy and clean.”

What do you enjoy the most about your job?

“I like the variety of tasks I can get across a week, one day working independently and the next as part of a team. All the staff and occupiers onsite are really friendly, so no matter what jobs I’m carrying out my working environment is always enjoyable.

“I’m a people person so I love getting to meet all the different kinds of visitors we get on campus. I especially enjoy the buzz of the atrium when we have events on, helping the estates team prepare site badges, registering the guests and getting stuck in with the general meet and greet.”

What do you find the most challenging about your job?

“One of the best parts of YBC is sometimes the most challenging! The campus is so large and varied with so many different occupiers, that we occasionally get people ringing up looking for an individual or organisation without having an exact name or details, so it can be a bit of a puzzle directing them to the correct place.”

What do you like to do in your free time?

“I like to watch tennis and when its warm enough, I like to go for a dip in the pool in my garden! I’m also a lover of reading, I particularly like to get stuck into a good thriller or horror novel. I’m currently reading James Patterson’s Women’s Murder Club series.”

If you’re interested in booking out our campus for a conference get in touch, or find out more about joining our community here.