Emma Ruffinato

How long have you worked here?

I joined Wyre Forest District Council in November last year and it was immediately apparent this is a very special place to work.

What drew you to Wyre Forest?

I choose where and who I work for very carefully and have two simple rules that I stick to - the values of the organisation must align with my own and there must be a committed to improving lives. So, when the opportunity to join Wyre Forest District Council presented itself, I didn’t hesitate.

People are at the heart of everything we do here and we could not serve the communities of the District without the commitment, knowledge and expertise of our staff teams many of whom also live here. There is a supportive culture; everyone was very friendly, welcoming and willing to share their knowledge to help me settle in. 

What's the best thing about working here?

Wyre Forest is an amazingly beautiful and diverse area; urban, rural and riverside and, what has struck me most since joining WFDC, staff are proud to work for the Council, they understand their role and collective responsibility to improve the lives of residents and serve the communities which make up the District. Whether that is managing our parks and open spaces, repairing and conserving our listed buildings, regenerating our high streets, collecting our waste, improving our waterways or housing, managing our financial resources or ensuring our district is a safe place to live, to name only a few, I was surprised that the Council had such diverse functions or roles and, for me, this means no two days are the same.

It is easy to see why staff stay at Wyre Forest, aside from the obvious and usual remuneration and benefits, there is a sense of belonging.