Celebrating National Career Development Month at Making Space

Published 1 November 2025

November isn’t just about crisp autumn days and cosy evenings – it’s National Career Development Month! At Making Space, we’re proud to celebrate our people and highlight the importance of continuous learning, career planning, and personal growth.

Tom Cruse, Associate Director of People at Making Space, said:

At Making Space, our commitment to people, professional development, and wellbeing is at the heart of everything we do. We’re proud to have achieved the prestigious Gold-level Investors in People (IIP) accreditation in 2023 after maintaining Silver since 2014.

We believe in creating an environment where our people feel valued, recognised, and empowered to grow in their careers. Almost 60% of our senior posts are filled through internal promotions, showing our dedication to nurturing talent and providing clear progression paths.

Alongside flexible working practices, we promote a culture that supports colleagues to thrive both personally and professionally. Our 2024–2029 strategic plan reinforces this commitment to a welcoming, inclusive workplace where professional growth and wellbeing go hand in hand.

Our commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) is central to who we are and how we work. Our vision is simple but powerful: to create a place for everyone where diversity is embraced, equity is championed, and all individuals feel valued, respected, and empowered to succeed. Together, we are building a community where everyone belongs.

This vision guides everything we do, from recruitment and leadership development to how we collaborate and support one another. We want everyone at Making Space to feel they can be their authentic selves and have the opportunity to reach their full potential.

At Making Space, colleagues are encouraged to take every opportunity to develop and succeed. We offer a wide range of learning and development pathways, including the Level 2 qualification in Adult Care, which can be completed during work hours and is open to all team members. This free, nationally recognised qualification enhances skills, boosts confidence, and supports long-term career progression.

Victoria’s career journey at Making Space

As part of National Career Development Month 2025, we’re celebrating the inspiring journey of Victoria (Vic) Lawton-Bates, who joined Making Space as a Dementia Advisor before progressing to Team Leader and now thriving as a Bid Manager within our Development Team.

Vic’s story shows how career growth doesn’t always follow a straight line, and how transferable skills, passion, and perseverance can lead to completely new opportunities.

Starting her working life in retail banking, Vic later took time out to raise her children, two of whom have disabilities. Her experiences navigating the health and social care system inspired her to retrain, studying Health and Wellbeing at university and graduating with first-class honours.

After joining Making Space in 2023, Victoria quickly impressed her colleagues and managers with her commitment and talent. She moved from supporting carers and people living with dementia to managing teams and, eventually, into the world of business development, where she now contributes to the organisation’s growth and success through her work in bid writing and project development.

Vic said:

I never imagined I’d end up working in Business Development – I didn’t even know what bid writing was when I left university! I thought I wanted to be a Complementary Therapist, but life had other plans. Looking back, every change and challenge led me to something better. Making Space has supported me through every step, helping me realise it’s never too late to find a career that truly fits.

Victoria’s story is a powerful reminder that career development can happen at any stage of life. With the right support, encouragement, and mindset, it’s always possible to find your path, even if it’s not the one you first imagined. You can read the full story here (PDF).

Anna Evans, Learning and Development Manager at Making Space, added:

We’re committed to creating an environment where all our learners and apprentices feel supported and confident to take the next step in their careers. Our training programmes are designed to evolve with the sector, ensuring they remain relevant and forward-thinking.

We’re particularly proud to offer the new Community Health & Wellbeing Worker apprenticeship, which equips individuals with the skills needed to build strong community connections and help people access the support they need locally. It’s a great option for colleagues in community-based roles and covers important topics like preventative health and wellbeing.

At Making Space, we believe in more than just jobs, we build careers with purpose. If you’re ready to make a real difference in people’s lives while working in an organisation that truly values and supports you, explore our current opportunities here.