We chat to Tom Easen, our much-loved Operations Manager, about his extraordinary H1 journey
What’s your nickname?
I used to get called Malibu after an, erm, interesting night out, and Simba, because I used to have long, blonde hair.
Tea or coffee?
Tea. 100%. Although – I’m off the caffeine these days so it’s Redbush all the way.
Favourite snack?
Like Joey from Friends, it’s got to be sandwiches. You can’t beat a BLT in my eyes.
Dogs or cats?
That’s a toughie. I grew up with both but have a real soft spot for cats.
Netflix or Amazon Prime?
Another tough one – but at the moment Netflix. I’ve just finished Better Call Saul, which was amazing.
Next holiday?
What’s a holiday?! Just joking. Sort of. My partner is Polish so we’ll be heading to her hometown for Christmas.
When did your H1 journey begin?
Well it started in 2004. I’d just finished school and my mum, Pam, who founded H1, asked me to come in and do a day’s filing. That day turned into four years. I disappeared for a bit but came back eventually and celebrated my two-year anniversary of this stint in May.
What does a typical day look like?
It’s so cliched but there’s no such thing as a typical day. I just start each morning by opening my inbox to see what’s in store – which could be anything from a personnel problem to troubleshooting an IT issue.
What’s the best aspect of your job?
Without a shadow of a doubt, it’s the people. I genuinely think I’ve done every possible role within the company, from working as a carer through to my current role in operations and even cleaning toilets somewhere in between all that. And in every single one of those roles I’ve encountered the most incredible people – from fellow colleagues and carers to our amazing clients. I’m still close friends with so many of my former co-workers from the past 10 years – and we try to get together as often as possible..
And the worst?
Being an Easen within H1 is both a blessing and a curse. You can’t really say no to anything, and have to put your all into your job, but to be honest I wouldn’t have it any other way.
What makes you proud to work for H1?
Again, it’s the people, and the fact that I get to help shape the future of a company that my mum built from scratch and put her own ideals into. That’s an incredible feeling. And – there’s much more to come. Pam, Sam and I have got some really exciting plans up our sleeves. I can’t say much more than that at the moment, but it’s going to be amazing.
‘All my life’ – in many different respects.