Our Sandpiper stories

Here at SandpiperCI, we strive to provide our colleagues with the opportunity for a long-term career with us. Meet some of our team below and find out more about their career journey at SandpiperCI.

Tags: Careers, Jersey, Marks & Spencer, Matalan, Guernsey, Alderney

Keiran Poole, Operations Manager Alderney

My SandpiperCI journey started back in 2009, at age 19, working in M&S Clothing King Street in a temporary role. Upon my temporary role ending, I was successful in gaining a full-time permanent role within the food retail side of the business. I continued to work with SandpiperCI, progressing through the ranks before being promoted to Store Manager in 2018. Since then, I have managed various stores within the business before being promoted to Cluster Manager in 2020 overseeing seven Food Retail stores. Earlier on this year, I was lucky enough to be considered for an Operations Manager role overseeing all Food Retail stores in Alderney. Throughout my career with SandpiperCI, I have been fortunate enough to be supported in a range of professional development programs both internally with our HR team and externally with Highlands College, which has aided me with my personal and professional development.

Debbie Taylor, Store Manager, Matalan Jersey

I started working for SandpiperCI in 2018 at George Clothing. During this time, I spent my time as Assistant Manager learning a range of new skills which I found really rewarding. After a challenging few years of managing the store through COVID, a change in franchise from George to Matalan, and covering my Line Manager’s maternity cover, the hard work and perseverance paid off and early on this year I was promoted to Store Manager at Matalan Jersey. In September 2022, I successfully gained a place on the Trackers Level 3 Retail Apprenticeship and I look forward to gaining new skills which I can take back to my colleagues and the workplace. 

Alina Barbu, Store Manager, M&S St Peter

I have been working for SandpiperCI since 2015, where I started at M&S King Street Foods as a Customer Assistant. After a year, I became a Section Coordinator, being supported by management and colleagues. Within a year and with support and training from management, my colleagues and external courses, I became a Section Manager at M&S St Peter.  Here I’ve learnt even more about running a store and the importance of a good team. I am currently studying for CMI Level 3 and aim to become the best version of myself as a Manager. 

Mikaela Connor, Learning & Development Officer

I started out in the business in 2005 at 16 working weekends in M&S. Upon leaving school at 18, having successfully gained 5 A-Levels, I decided that university was not the path that I wished to follow. Instead, I continued to work with SandpiperCI, taking advantage of the opportunities they had available to me. Since that time, I have held a variety of roles across our business; I became a Duty Manager by the age of 21 for M&S Clothing & Home, Cluster Manager for our Liberty Pasty Shop, and Merchandiser for our clothing retail brands; Matalan & Crew Clothing.  Throughout my time in the company, I've been lucky enough to be supported in a range of professional qualifications which have aided me with my professional development. I am currently studying for both my CMI Level 5 and my 'train the trainer' qualification, before moving on to complete my CIPD Level 5 in 2023.

Tracy Weldrick, Brand Marketing Manager

A recent recruit to the SandpiperCI family, I started working within the Marketing team in December 2021. Within this time, SandpiperCI has supported me with my professional development; I have been fortunate enough to attend Marketing 102 with Digital Jersey and undertake a Microsoft Excel refresher course. Most recently, I started the CIM Level 6 Diploma in Professional Digital Marketing, with the support of the business. This course will help enable me to be more strategic in my role at work and allow me to provide even more value to the team.