Ashton local takes unexpected career turn into care compliance

"If you'd asked me six months ago what care compliance was, I'd have given you a strange look." 

That's how Christine Bill, 25, from Ashton-under-Lyne, describes her introduction to the world she now works in every single day. 

Twelve months ago, Christine was in London, working as a creative freelancer for the British Library through their Young Creators Lab scheme, contributing to projects through their Youth Collective and appearing in content for the institution's social media channels. She has a first-class degree in Journalism, two years of professional experience and a career in the creative sector that was steadily taking shape. 

Then she came home to Ashton and took a Level 3 Multi Marketer Apprenticeship at a Ronecare, a compliance company in Oldham. Care compliance. A world she had never heard of. 

"It was completely unknown to me," she admits. "I didn't have a clue what it was. It's a job that sounds boring, but it is understated and very much needed." 

What Christine quickly discovered was that behind the dry sounding title lies work that genuinely matters. Care organisations across the UK rely on having the right policies, procedures and documentation in place to operate safely and legally, protecting some of the most vulnerable people in our communities. Getting it wrong has real consequences. 

"The rewarding feeling you get from knowing you've supported a client with essential documents to help them function properly and ensuring they're doing their due diligence, that drives me to come in every day and deliver excellent quality service," she says. "You build such great relationships with clients. That was something I really didn't expect." 

For Christine the move also carries a personal message about apprenticeships, one she feels strongly about challenging. 

"There's still a perception that apprenticeships are for school leavers who don't go to university. I have a first-class degree and two years of professional experience and I chose an apprenticeship because I wanted to learn something completely new in a real working environment. That's not a step backwards. That's a deliberate choice." 

Originally from Ashton, Christine is proud to be putting her skills to work closer to home. 

"I always knew I'd come back," she says. "There's something really meaningful about using everything I've learned to contribute to something local." 

Three months in, still learning, still surprised, and not going anywhere.