27-year-old Lauren Arris Cartwright has swapped Belfast for Bolton after getting stuck in the North West following the first UK lockdown in March 2020.
Lauren arrived in Bolton for a weekend trip with only a carry-on bag of possessions and now she’s here to stay with a home, a boyfriend and a new career with electricals retailer, AO.
Having flown from Belfast to visit her boyfriend of three-months in Bolton, Lauren was due to fly home to Northern Ireland the day after lockdown began. Each time she tried to get home, Covid-19 restrictions foiled her attempts.
Lauren had only visited the town she now calls home once before for a friend’s wedding in November 2019, where she met her now-boyfriend, Dan.
“It was such strange circumstances getting stuck in Bolton – a town I’d been to once – and having to move in with my new partner. We had only known each other three months and seen each other four times since we met. I had just a few bits of clothing, makeup and my toothbrush with me – it really wasn’t ideal!”
(Lauren Arris Cartwright)
Lauren had previously travelled all over the world as cabin crew with a major airline but has now found her feet in Bolton. After being furloughed in July 2020, Lauren decided to start a new career and applied to work at AO’s customer service team in Bolton.
Lauren was one of 1500 people to join AO during 2020 as part of the retailer’s biggest ever recruitment drive as it invested for the growth in online shopping as millions of new customers discovered internet shopping, some for the first time.
“Despite a daunting start, I’ve loved setting up a new life for myself in Bolton and joining AO has helped that. The team have been so supportive, from welcoming me to the business and Bolton but also, in giving me the opportunity to develop my career so quickly and helping me progress in just the short six-months I’ve been an AOer.”
(Lauren Arris Cartwright)
Starting her role in September last year, Lauren quickly established herself in customer services and is now an integral part of the team. Lauren is also supporting AO’s new recruits into the contact centre, helping and aiding their first 12-weeks on the phone to customers.
A recent customer enquiry that Lauren dealt with was the story of a couple who had just adopted two baby girls and their fridge had broken down. Lauren not only sorted a new fridge freezer but a bouquet of flowers and a baby hamper too.
Lauren hopes to go home to visit her family as soon as the latest UK lockdown ends, and travel is permitted – but this time she’ll be choosing to come back to Bolton!
