Summary
Overview
Work history
Education
Skills
Work availability
Timeline
Receptionist

Caitlin Alston

Edinburgh

Summary

I am an experienced Business Support Officer with outstanding administration and communication skills. I have the ability to input data with care and accuracy for correct, up-to-date records. I am polite, punctual and friendly for professional staff and customer support. I have also had the experience of managing a very diverse team which means I am capable of tailoring my communication to individuals needs and ensuring they have the support necessary to complete their tasks and feel valued. I have also gained a lot of experience in communicating with senior members of staff and external organisations. During my career I have shown myself to be a loyal employee with solid understanding of training and mentoring employees. I am a dedicated team player, proactive and hands-on in task completion to ensure the best outcome.


I have a particular interest in Mental Health and ensuring people are seen for who they are. I am passionate about a person-centred approach and aim to deliver that within my role. I believe I have the skills to ensure people feel valued, supported and heard. This skillset has been extremely useful for my time as a Manager and has ensured I could maintain team morale.


I love taking on new challenges and developing my skillset. I thrive in new environments and like to offer a fresh outlook.

Overview

11
11
years of professional experience
1
1
year of post-secondary education

Work history

Business Support Officer

British Red Cross
Edinburgh
08.2016 - Current
  • Managed a team across Scotland, all with different needs and skill level.
  • Organised meetings, took meeting minutes and completed follow-up actions.
  • Acted as point of contact for internal and external stakeholders, managing shared team inboxes and forwarding correspondence promptly.
  • Booked meeting rooms and prepared spaces with appropriate resources, equipment and catering supplies.
  • Responded proactively to changing demands to provide flexible, reactive business support.
  • Maintained accurate records and documentation for reliable reference.
  • Advised facilities teams of maintenance and repair requirements and supported with sourcing and booking contractors.
  • Promoted team development and growth to uplift capabilities whilst delivering agreed services.
  • Built and maintained strong working relationships with colleagues.
  • Assisted with collecting statistics, data and other management information.
  • Provided proactive secretarial support to senior staff, helping to improve department efficiency.
  • Understood changing staff requirements and scheduled personnel to meet demand.
  • Managed a team across Scotland, all with different needs and skill level.
  • Coached teams to deliver administration best practices, achieving KPIs.
  • Managed priorities and resources to achieve service delivery requirements.
  • Resolved performance management issues to maintain service quality.

Business Admin Apprenticeship - Internal Audit

City of Edinburgh Council
Edinburgh
08.2013 - 12.2015
  • Showed initiative and willingness to take on new challenges.
  • Identified and resolved issues using critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
  • Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to deliver projects within formal deadlines.
  • Used strong work ethic to meet stringent deadlines.
  • Sought feedback actively and used it to improve performance.
  • Demonstrated critical time management and organisational skills to balance studies alongside paid work.
  • Managed time effectively to meet deadlines.
  • Adapted to new situations and learned new skills quickly.
  • Shadowed senior team members to develop practical knowledge and gain critical industry-specific skills.
  • Established and nurtured positive professional relationships within working environments.
  • Communicated ideas and information clearly and concisely, both verbally and in writing
  • Participated in training and seminars to enhance skills and promote growth.
  • Worked productively with team members to achieve common goals.

Service Co-Ordinator - Events First Aid

British Red Cross
Edinburgh
01.2015 - 08.2015
  • Addressed customer complaints and resolved issues.
  • Received and actioned feedback to improve personal performance.
  • Fostered collaboration among cross-functional teams for project success.
  • Monitored processes and proposed recommendations for improvements.
  • Managed volunteers across Edinburgh, the Lothians and Borders.
  • Responded promptly to last minute requests and actioned as appropriate.
  • Implemented a structured system across the team to ensure the work was completed from start to finish.
  • Managed databases and information systems, maintaining accurate and accessible records.
  • Communicated with multiple agencies e.g. Scottish Ambulance Service, Events Managers, Groundskeepers, external volunteering agencies.
  • Conducted comprehensive research to provide valuable insights for strategic planning.
  • Facilitated constructive communication between stakeholders for project clarity and alignment.
  • Coordinated project meetings, documenting key action items and decisions.
  • Adapted to unforeseen challenges with proactive, flexible approach.
  • Liaised comfortably and confidently with all levels of staff using appropriate tact and diplomacy.
  • Managed and prioritised varied and busy workload to meet deadlines.
  • Demonstrated resilience and composure under pressure for successful project outcomes.
  • Analysed project performance metrics to make continuous improvements.
  • Trained and assigned tasks to team members.
  • Discussed issues and brainstormed solutions with various groups and individuals to maintain project progress.
  • Planned and coordinated events and activities, maintaining seamless and efficient workflow.
  • Build and maintained strong relationships with partners and key stakeholders.
  • Answered phone calls and responded to emails from clients.

Education

SVQ Level 3 - Business Administration

SVQ
Edinburgh
08.2013 - 06.2014

Skills

  • Employee management
  • Accounts Payable and Receivable (AP/AR)
  • Data management
  • Business administration
  • Ability to prioritize
  • Data entry
  • Database administration
  • Workflow planning
  • Microsoft Office expertise
  • Event coordination
  • Project assistance
  • Meeting preparation
  • Presentation development
  • Customer-focused
  • Time management
  • Leadership
  • Team building
  • Communication skills
  • Problem-solving

Work availability

Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
morning
afternoon
evening
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Timeline

Business Support Officer

British Red Cross
08.2016 - Current

Service Co-Ordinator - Events First Aid

British Red Cross
01.2015 - 08.2015

SVQ Level 3 - Business Administration

SVQ
08.2013 - 06.2014

Business Admin Apprenticeship - Internal Audit

City of Edinburgh Council
08.2013 - 12.2015

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Caitlin Alston