Sarah Ford, Programme Director
A well-balanced approach
Sarah has been with Barclays for 15+ years, in a number of technical Service Management roles and most recently Programme Management. The last 3 years have been spent in Barclays Financial Assistance (BFA) where she has been promoted to Programme Director with key focus being on driving digital and re-platforming programmes. She is based out of the Radbroke office, Barclays’ technology hub in Cheshire. She works full time but uses the flexibility offered by Barclays to seamlessly balance her professional career and her role as mother to a young family.
Service excellence: our common goal
“My work is all about delivering consistently excellence technology for our Customer and Colleagues. This requires collaboration, close stakeholder management and teamwork: our common goal of providing changes and improvements to our customers and colleagues is at the heart of everything we do. Recent deliveries over the past few years have included delivering an award winning digital journey for customers who are in need of financial assistance. This delivery has seen an improved experience for customers by removing the need to call the service desk for up to 90 minutes to discuss, what is a hard topic of being in financial difficulty, to being able to now do this via the Barclays App. Customers can fill out the relevant forms in the ‘palm of their hand’ and even set up a plan without needing to speak to anyone whenever it suits them.
I’m driven to deliver while enjoying an excellent work-life balance.
The application of citizenship
“I’m very proud of my involvement in the creation of the first mobile app for the Childline Charity. At Barclays, we believe strongly in citizenship, so it was a great pleasure to be involved in the team working tirelessly with Childline to deliver the app, originally the idea of four schoolgirls. I liaised with the girls on the build, and travelled with them to various radio and television interviews when we launched it. It’s such a worthwhile project, and one that proves Barclays’ intention to be a force for good in the world.
“At the moment, I’m focusing on the delivery of re-platforming programme for Barclays Financial Assistance, which comes with very tough deadlines, but will really benefit our customers. This a new challenge for me – it’s very rewarding to increase my skillset and I know it will drive my career even further forwards.”
Getting the right balance
“I enjoy being part of an organisation that not only respects and values my abilities, but also supports my life outside work. I thrive on the hybrid ways of working currently in place and I’m driven to deliver while enjoying an excellent work-life balance. Barclays makes all this possible.”
