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LIBERTY Steel UK has recently relaunched its social project Ambassador Awards as part of its Community Engagement Programme. Employees who hold significant roles in community projects or organisations are being rewarded through Ambassador Awards with £300 certificates for their projects.
Two outstanding employees recently received these awards for their local kids’ football clubs. With this support, they provided warm winter coats and improved training sessions.
One of our recent ambassador awardees is Ryan Jones, TCM Shift Manager (in the photo). Outside of work, he is a passionate football coach and a former player, as well as an active participant in various charitable endeavours. We met with Ryan to discuss his role in the community and the ambassador award he recently received for his work with a local football club.
– This is my fourth ambassador award with LIBERTY. I had previously applied for this grant to benefit local senior football teams, and it’s great that this scheme is back again. This time, I applied to support Bramley Sunnyside Under 7 Girls’ football team where I am the head coach. It’s an excellent initiative by Liberty, and we are very grateful for the support we have received. Our football club received £300, and we used it to purchase warm winter jackets for match days and training. My colleague Nick and I are responsible for all match preparations, including organising referees, communicating with team leads, fixing all kinds of issues, handling parent communications. We also conduct training sessions, and, as any junior coach will tell you, a significant part of our role involves tying boot laces, caring for the kids, and all fundraising required to keep our club going.
– What motivates you to support local communities, and what inspires you to do so?
– It’s important to me because I have a strong sense of community, and I like to give back to my community. My community played a crucial role in my life, supporting me from my junior playing days to adulthood. I’ve seen how vital volunteers are to a community, and that inspired me to get involved. After my football career ended due to injuries, I decided to become a coach to give back. I started coaching when I was around 23 and began my coaching journey with a men’s Saturday football team, which was quite challenging initially. But it taught me valuable management skills that I’ve carried into my professional life, especially in dealing with conflicts. I believe it has had a positive impact on my career.
– How do you balance your work, coaching, and family?
– I have a busy life. I coach kids after work, heading to the football club right after my shift ends. We train on Mondays and play on Saturday mornings. My oldest daughter, who is six, plays in this team and trains with Rotherham United on a Wednesday night. I’m proud to watch her play and, more importantly, see her develop as a person enjoying the beautiful game with her teammates. My youngest daughter has turned 4 and is also showing an interest in the game, so I may be about to become even busier!
Balancing work, family, and coaching can be a challenge, with numerous activities for our kids like swimming, gymnastics, dancing, and football. We try to have Fridays free for our family; we have film night where we all like to relax, watch a film, and eat some nice food together.
– Is football a personal passion of yours, or does it hold a special place in your heart for some other reason?
– Yes, football holds a special place in my heart, as it does for many people. It’s a family tradition, with my family dedicating themselves to football, following our beloved Sheffield Wednesday home and away and following England to various places from the Ukraine to Rio. The latter has been on hold for the last few years with being married and having kids, but me and my daughters have been following our glorious Lionesses. We were lucky to see most of England’s games in the tournament, and it was particularly special to go to the Final and witness the Lionesses winning the tournament with my wife and my girls – a very special day I will never forget. I’ve experienced the early mornings and travels for training as a child, and now, as a parent, I can understand the effort involved. But the joy it brings far outweighs the challenges. My dad managed a local football team and instilled in me a different approach, focusing on fairness and enjoyment rather than a win-at-all-costs mentality. This is the approach I embrace in my coaching – winning comes with enjoyment, and passion develops from that. When I coach kids, I ask for three promises: 1. Play without fear and express yourself, 2. Work hard, and lastly and most importantly, 3. Have fun.
– Can you briefly describe your job at LIBERTY Steel? What are your responsibilities, and do you find your work enjoyable and fulfilling?
– I am currently the Shift Manager at Thrybergh. My main responsibilities include maintaining a high standard of health and safety, ensuring proper auditing and permits, overseeing production, and reporting any shift-related issues. I also monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to ensure we meet our targets. It’s a fulfilling role, and I find great satisfaction in combining my work at LIBERTY with coaching.
– Are there any other charity or community projects you’re involved in?
– Whenever I have the opportunity to support local charities, I’m eager to do so. Recently, I supported an initiative, the Baton of Hope, to raise awareness of male suicide rates, which is a critical issue, particularly for those under 55. We also organised a charity walk for a young toddler who sadly passed away. Our team completed a 20-mile walk around the Peak District and raised a few thousand pounds, and my daughters and I sell poppies for the Royal British Legion on a stall in various supermarkets around Remembrance Day.
– Can you give some tips on balancing work, family, and charity projects?
– Achieving work-life balance is essential, and it’s something you have to actively work on. Setting aside time for yourself is crucial, even if it’s just a few minutes. Find activities you enjoy, whether it’s sitting outside with a cup of tea, enjoying a peaceful minute, engaging in sports, or walking. Supporting and helping others, especially kids, is incredibly rewarding and outweighs the challenges. That’s the core reason why I do what I do – witnessing the joy and development of your own kids and the kids in your community.
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