We caught up with our Office and People Manager, Saloni, who gave us a deeper insight into her day to day role and a bit about herself. The team will say she’s a ray of sunshine around the office and keeps everything inside B&W moving!
Who are you, what’s your name, and what’s your role?
I am Saloni Apte, the Office & People Manager at Black & White Bridging and my role covers being our employee’s first point of contact for anything HR related and creating a workplace environment where people genuinely enjoy coming to work. I take on responsibilities such as drafting all HR documents, onboarding people, driving culture and team social initiatives, managing employee relations, and making sure the offices run smoothly.
How long have you been with B&W?
This is my first job in the UK after completing my masters. I started working from November 2023 so I’ve been here for a year and a half now. B&W sponsored my visa so that I could develop my career in England.
What’s your favourite thing about your role?
 The People. I get to interact with every single person working with us. I love being the go-to person for support and helping our employees navigate through their work life as seamlessly as possible.
Can you walk us through a typical day in your role?
Honestly, I can’t really answer this question because no two days are ever the same. But one thing I do every single day is send a movements email that details all the team’s whereabouts for the day, which helps everyone know what the schedules are for each member of the team. The rest of the day goes by as per the time frames we are in– if we have new hires joining, then prepping for their onboarding, drafting contracts, notices and letters. Making sure our records are up to date, making necessary arrangements for people, planning our team social events, and taking on new HR projects that will benefit our employees are all fairly common tasks, too.
What’s your favourite thing about working at B&W?
We are a small but very close-knit company. The support that is provided is unmatched. I was an international student, and was given the chance to showcase my caliber, guided in every way. The company has helped me carve my way here and I am sure will support me in the future as well.
What are three things you can’t live without?
                        My phone with internet connection and an unlimited supply of pens and paper (I write a lot..) and I think I’ll be good!
What is one thing we don’t know about you?
    I was an extremely introverted kid.
What attracted you to the specialist finance industry?
My profession is not industry specific, therefore I was drawn to an organisation that is looking to grow and is constantly evolving rather than focusing on a specific industry. That said, I’ve enjoyed learning about finance and seeing how it can be of benefit to brokers and their borrowers.
What did you study at university?
I studied MSc Management from the University of Bath.
What’s your favourite office “hack” that everyone should know?
It isn’t a hack, but something I do. I check in on people personally and try to remember small details, which creates a bond and a connection. I take feedback very constructively and seriously, trying to make the other person feel valued and helping to create a positive working environment.
Who will we catch up with next? Stay tuned ⏳
