Credit Management January February 2022

CICM BRITISH CREDIT AWARDS
BACK TO FRONT
What does it mean to win the ‘Giving Back’ Award?
AUTHOR – Sam Wilson
KATHERINE Bailey FCICM is a
‘lifer’. An educator and professional
credit manager, credit
management has been her
passion since she took the first
steps into the industry. And
it’s that passion and commitment that saw her
recognised at The British Credit Awards in 2020
when she received the Giving Back Award.
“Being a Fellow of the CICM, the BCA awards
was the one I wanted to win because it’s the
Institute I’m a member of and they’re the exams
I worked hard to complete. It’s the award I’m
most proud of, and when I eventually get a
mantel piece, it will take pride of place.”
Whilst receiving an award as prestigious
as this, would during any normal period, be
monumental for Katherine and her company,
Valor Hospitality, the pandemic put a tiny pin in
celebrations thanks to nationwide shut down of
the entire hospitality industry.
“I suppose all of the benefits we could have
seen as a company from winning an award
such as this were subsumed by the pandemic
because everything else was far more important
at the time.”
However, the award gave her team the
confidence they needed to get through a difficult
time: “Within the business we celebrated the
award completely, and it gave our team a massive
confidence boost. Particularly because credit in
hospitality is often adjoined to accounts, so it
allowed the team and the credit controllers on
site to see someone in credit being recognised.”
INSPIRATIONAL LEADERSHIP
That inspiration, something Katherine is very
well known for amongst her students, resonated
with her team, so much so that more awards
were soon in the offing. “Funnily enough a
member of my team did win an award, after
I put them forward for the Apprentice of the
Year.”
Now, her team are more driven than ever as
Katherine evidenced through their persistence
to enter the Credit Team of the Year Award:
“Winning has sparked something within the
team as a whole,” she says. “Now they’re all
asking me if we can enter the Credit Team of the
Year Award, rather than me doing all of the flag
waving, which just shows how impactful the
BCAs can be.”
The mentorship that allowed Katherine’s
Apprentices to win a highly recognised award
and prompt them to push for entry into the Team
Award is one of the main reasons Katherine was
put forward for her commendation.
“The win definitely created a new passion
point for the CICM within our business. In
the wake of the pandemic, we’ve seen more
“Winning
has sparked
something within
the team as a
whole, now they’re
all asking me if
we can enter the
Credit Team of the
Year Award, rather
than me doing all
of the flag waving,
which just shows
how impactful the
BCAs can be.”
and more people come through into credit
management and express an interest in learning
and becoming part of the Institute, including
some of our Apprentices.”
After nine years as part of the CICM’s
teaching panel, educating students in a variety
of subject areas including trade, consumer
and export credit management, as well as
business environment and Law, the CICM
appointed her as Chair of the Steering Group for
Apprenticeship Standards.
“I’ve been teaching for the CICM for eight
years and I love giving back to my students and
being there to teach them, not just to pass their
exams but to help them develop their career.”
It’s not just Katherine who sees the benefits.
To this day she has close relationships with
students she mentored many years previously.
“Having ex-students phone me up asking for
advice or even to proofread something means so
much. Seeing them progress beyond the course
I teach and go on to do their Level Five, for
example, makes me feel great and very much
makes me smile!”
Sue Chapple FCICM, Chief Executive of
the CICM said Katherine is an example of a
dedicated mentor and someone who continues
to put her heart and soul into the industry:
“Katherine consistently goes above and beyond,
not just for her students but for her local East
of England branch and the industry as a whole.
She’s an example of someone who has excelled
within her career but also someone who has
demonstrated commitment to learning and
education, a core principle of the CICM.
“We’re extremely lucky to have her within
the Institute and she thoroughly deserves the
recognition she receives.”
Brave | Curious | Resilient / www.cicm.com / January & February 2022 / PAGE 29