Let's say hello to...
Here to help, however I can (yes, even moving furniture).
Hi, I’m Sarah, the Office Manager here at Heriot-Watt Student Union, you’ll find me doing everything from greeting visitors and helping students, to moving furniture and jumping in wherever I’m needed. It’s a small team and we all chip in, I love that about it.
I’m from Edinburgh and, honestly, I’ve never felt the need to leave. I studied here, built a family, and I love the familiarity of this city. My path to the Union has been full of variety. I’ve done admin jobs, worked with kids with communication needs, and even opened my own café which I ran alongside my daughter. That was quite the test of our relationship! But it worked well and we’re now working together at the Union.
After the pandemic, I started working in the Union café, and then, a job came up in the office. I honestly didn’t think I’d get it, but I applied anyway, and here I am. Best move I’ve ever made. My day-to-day involves everything from managing bookings, HR admin, and operations, to, yes, the occasional bit of heavy lifting. The variety keeps me engaged and lets me connect with everyone. One of the projects I’m most proud of is transforming our meeting rooms. These changes have made a real difference in how people enjoy the spaces. Meeting Room 2 took a bit of perseverance to get it just right, but seeing it now makes all the difference.
The Union’s value that means the most to me is welcoming. It’s the foundation of my role, making people feel seen from the moment they walk in. It is about creating real human connections. Back in 2022, my family and I hosted a young Ukrainian couple. It was life changing. We built a relationship through kindness, curiosity, and a lot of Google Translate. It reminded me that sometimes, the most important connections don’t even need words.
Outside of work, my world revolves around my family, they’re the reason I’ve stayed so close to home. My sisters, my mum, and I are obsessed with Bruce Springsteen and have followed him across Europe from Italy to Denmark. Liverpool’s next, but I’ve got my eye on the States too. You never know…
And a quirky fact? I fast every Monday and Thursday, and every other day is an avocado lunch day.
Ways to get in touch with me...