Behind every member of the TWO family lies a fascinating story – and Sam Roff’s journey into our team is no exception.
We sat down with our long-serving Service Manager to learn more about her role, her plans for the future, and why she’s faced more challenges than most throughout her career.
Tell us a bit about how you ended up working for TWO, Sam.
I previously worked for the Met Police and the University of London as a Service Coordinator. I used to liaise with the team at TWO when we were subcontracting them for various cleaning projects. Eventually, I decided I wanted to move from Canning Town in East London out to Essex – and I casually asked TWO if they had any positions available. To my amazement, they said ‘yes’ – and I’m still here 13 years later!
How has your role evolved in the last few years?
I came on as a Service Coordinator before taking on the role of Service Manager in 2020, so I’ve been heading up my department for 4 years or so. My job is extremely varied; from day to day, I can help with everything from quoting for works and dealing with engineers to booking in PPMs, providing costs for new kit, and even invoicing.
My key responsibility is to keep our services on track and make sure my team and I are doing everything we can to keep our operations moving, make sure our field staff have everything they need to get the job done, and deliver the best possible service to our customers.
What has changed during your time at TWO?
As a business, we have pretty much doubled in size since I started. It’s been an exciting few years, but we’ve naturally had to employ more staff in the office to cope with the increased workload that comes from such fast growth.
We’ve also been trying to find more efficient ways of doing things. I have personally been helping Jon come up with ideas for a new database management system, which has been in the works for some time, but is getting closer to its launch date.
What personal battles have you had to face during your time with us?
I’ve had Crohn’s disease for 22 years, and my treatment has had a significant impact on my life. During my time at TWO, I’ve had bowel surgery and hernia surgery – and I’ve also had two kids, so to say it’s been a challenging time would be an understatement!
I can honestly say, though, that despite dealing with everything that’s been going on, I’ve only ever had 10 days off sick in the 13 years I’ve been here. I remember turning up to the office when I was 30 weeks pregnant with my second child, with a drain in my side because I had an 8cm abscess in my stomach. I think this was the only time Jon ever made me a cup of tea! If I haven’t been able to drive because I’m recovering from surgery, I’ve worked from home wherever possible. I believe that the only way to get over these things is to keep your mind busy and push on.
Being diagnosed with Crohn’s has made me determined to raise awareness of this illness and help raise money for further research. Every year, me and my group of girls take part in the annual My Walk It event for Crohns & Colitis UK. Instead of following the standard London route, we created our own trail, and we walk from Benfleet to Southend seafront (stopping in a few pubs along the way for some light refreshments, of course). It’s always a great experience and the main thing is we get to generate much-needed cash for a charity that’s very close to our hearts.
You can find out more about Crohns & Colitis UK and sign up for future fundraising events here.
What do you like to do when you’re not working?
I mainly spend time with my family. My son, Frank, is autistic with ADHD, and is non-verbal at the moment – so I spend a lot of time planning fun activities that we can all take part in. Both of my children are starting school in September, so once they’re settled, I’m looking forward to taking a bit more time for myself.