Meet Your Colleagues- Andrew Hegan

Here at SERC we are keen to promote internal colleagues to allow staff the opportunity to get to know each other and put a face to the name, particularly due to the size and scope of SERC. With this in mind, “Meet your Colleagues” is a fun Q and A exercise to help raise awareness of people’s roles within SERC and allows you to get to know more about your fellow colleagues.

This week’s, “Meet your Colleagues” features Andrew Hegan. Andrew is a Procurement Trainee within the Finance Department here at SERC.

1. What does your role at SERC involve?

Working as part of the wider finance team, my role as a Procurement Trainee includes purchasing many of the materials, items and services required within SERC.

I would process Credit Card payments, Purchase Orders and set up new suppliers on our system. Additionally, with SERC being a Public Sector organisation - the Procurement team make sure the college is compliant with various procurement rules, regulations and legislation in everything we purchase. This includes creating tender documentation such as specifications, pricing schedules and Terms and conditions to gain value for money in everything we purchase.  

On top of this, I am studying to obtain my examinations with the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) over the next three years.

2. Tell us a bit about your background?

Being a Bangor man, I attended Towerview Primary School and then moved on to Bangor Grammar School to study my GCSEs and A-Levels. After school I studied Politics at the Ulster University (I still have no idea why!) and received a First-Class Honours Degree. After graduating I moved to Glasgow, however after a few months I realised that living with mummy and daddy was much more appealing than what was first thought!

On returning to Bangor, I was lucky to begin the Entry to Management Programme with the Procurement Section in SERC and gained an invaluable insight into a career path I wanted to pursue as Politics was not one which was appealing. When the Entry to Management finished, I obtained a role in HR in the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and then moved to a Graduate Scheme within the Business Services Organisation which provides various services such as Payroll, HR and procurement to the health service in Northern Ireland. In April 2018 – I returned to the SERC Finance team as a Procurement Trainee and have not looked back since!

3. What 3 words best describe you?

Determined, honest and hard-working. 

4. What do you like to do outside of work?

Outside of work my main interest would be football, watching games in the likes of Amsterdam, Leipzig and Porto. With my father being born in Scotland I am a season ticket holder at Ibrox (explaining the receding hairline) and travel to pretty much every home game in Glasgow.  

Over the past four months I have managed to lose 3.3 Stone, through cleaning up my diet and starting to increase my fitness through running and walking regularly. I also play the Bagpipes and I am currently Pipe Sergeant in Cleland Memorial Pipe Band. In my younger years – I was 2nd in Ireland at solo level and competed with the Pipes and Drums of the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

5. If you could swap jobs for a day who would it be and why?

As a kid I was obsessed with Postman Pat and always wanted to be a Postman – So I’ll have to go with being a Postman for a day.

6. List 3 items you would want with you if you were stranded on a deserted island?

Flint, Knife and Bagpipes.

7. What is your favourite film and why?

My favourite film is Batman: The Dark Knight.   The storyline, graphics, action and characters are fantastic!

8. Where do you most want to travel, but have never been?

One place I would love to visit is Israel.  Having studied and wrote many essays and assignments throughout my degree - I would love to go to Tel Aviv and travel to Jerusalem for a day or two, to witness the history of such a city which has been marred by conflict.

If you would like to partake in “Meet Your Colleagues” please contact Roisin Morgan (Marketing and Engagement Intern) at rmorgan@serc.ac.uk for more details.