We are delighted to welcome Alice Winter as our new Client Operations Executive. Just over a month into her role, Alice has already settled in brilliantly and proving to be a valued member of the team. From day one, Alice has approached her role with enthusiasm and a positive attitude, taking her time to get to know both our clients and her colleagues across the business. Her thoughtful approach and willingness to learn have made a great impression, and she is already making a positive contribution to the team.
Meet Alice: Our New Client Operations Executive
April 17, 2026
What are your hobbies, interests or passions outside of work?
Outside of work, I enjoy staying active through going to the gym, swimming, and running. I also love reading and spend a lot of my downtime working my way through books, as well as getting outdoors for long country walks in the Cotswolds.
What’s one fun fact about you that most people wouldn’t expect?
After university, I moved to a small town in Castilla-La-Manca in Spain and taught English as a second language for a year. It continues to be a highlight of my life!
Can you tell us a little about your background and career so far?
I’m local to Cheltenham, close to the Firestarter office, which makes the opportunity feel particularly well aligned. I studied History at university in Cardiff which I loved. My career in Business Support began after relocating to Australia, where I worked in the real estate sector and later moved into property valuations. These roles gave me a strong grounding in organisation, client support, and operational coordination, and sparked my interest in working at the centre of a fast‑paced, people‑focused business.
What’s your role at Firestarter, and what do you enjoy most about it?
At Firestarter, I am the Client Operations Executive. I play a central role in keeping the business running smoothly by supporting Directors with executive and operational oversight, coordinating projects and resources, and acting as a key link between internal teams, contractors, and clients. I manage everything from diary planning, reporting, and process improvement to project onboarding, resourcing, and external supplier management, while also supporting marketing and business development activity. What I enjoy most about the role is its variety and pace as well as the people. We are really lucky at Firestarter to have such an excellent team.
What attracted you to this role and our organisation?
I was attracted to this role because it sits at the heart of the business and combines strategic support with hands‑on operational delivery. The opportunity to work closely with Directors, gain visibility across multiple projects, and be involved in decision making appealed to me, as did the variety of responsibilities across operations, client management, and project coordination.
What does a great workplace culture look like to you?
A good work culture is built on action, empowering individuals and teams to move work forward confidently and efficiently. It’s about clarity too, so people understand expectations, goals, and how their work contributes to the bigger picture. I also value independence, where people feel trusted to make decisions, use their strengths, and grow in their roles. Finally, an importantly, a sense of fun keeps morale high and makes the environment energising, supportive, and sustainable.
What are you hoping to learn or develop while you’re at Firestarter?
While I’m at Firestarter, I’m hoping to continue developing my operational and strategic skill set by gaining deeper commercial awareness and insight into how different parts of the business connect and drive growth. I’m keen to build on my experience of working closely with Directors, strengthening my decision making, prioritisation, and stakeholder management skills. I’d also like to further develop my confidence and independence in managing complex projects, improving processes, and supporting teams to work more effectively. More broadly, I’m excited to keep learning within a fast‑paced, collaborative environment where I can take on new challenges, contribute meaningfully, and grow alongside the business.
To Conclude
With such a positive start behind her, we are excited to see what Alice will achieve as she continues her journey with us. Her thoughtful, enthusiastic approach, combined with her broad operational experience and people-focused mindset, makes her a natural fit for a role at the heart of the business. As she continues to support the directors and help the team work more effectively, we’re excited to see the impact she’ll have as she grows alongside Firestarter.
