Declan is a Service Advisor based in Sky Ireland. And he shares his experiences of Dyspraxia and Dyscalculia.

My name is Declan Lavin and I have DCD and Dyscalculia. I always suspected I had something different about me; I did not play sports well, and I couldn’t process numbers well, and generally failed at everything in school, especially with languages and numbers.

It was only in the last few months of 6th Year that I found out I have the combined learning difficulties of Dyspraxia and Dyscalculia.

It was unfortunate that although I got on well at Secondary School, I did not get enough points to get into college. Instead, I had to do a PLC to get the required points to get into college, and then did a Media and PR degree which was very creative and allowed me to be successful in the way in which a typical degree would not, due to little exams and a lot of practical work – which benefited me.

Dyspraxia and Dyscalculia still affects me to this day. I’ve had about 15 different jobs before Sky, all of which I either left or got fired from because I couldn’t keep up. At Sky, I’m grateful to finally have a Neurodivergent network which can understand issues like this.

In terms of my support and inclusion so far at Sky; I expressed to my Team Leader from Day 1 that I have DCD + Dyscalculia, and that I might need extra help and support with things when needed.

My Team Leader has helped me use my DCD + Dyscalculia to my advantage, by helping me realise the benefits of these conditions in my regular 1-2-1 sessions – which has helped me during interviews for other jobs at Sky, and networking with other colleagues.

In terms of the Neurodivergent network; I feel like having a community of people that have different neurodivergent conditions creates more awareness about all types of different conditions. And creates an environment where no matter which type of condition you have, you are put in a position where you can succeed.

Reading stories of department heads, and people in senior positions, that have that amount of success with their neurodivergent conditions – it makes you feel better knowing that you can succeed and apply for more senior roles knowing that other people have done it before!

Overall, seeing other people from all different types of backgrounds, with different positions who have similar struggles to me, gives me hope knowing that I will be able to go into those senior positions too – and possibly even further!

What do you love about your role at Sky?

It’s kind of cliche to say everything, but I actually do love everything about my role.

The one thing I love about Sky; is that I want to work. I wake up in the morning to come to work; with the colleagues, with the staff, with the support.

It’s quite empowering of what you can achieve – from the moment you start training, and the transition to actually going on the phones, is seamless.

What’s the working environment like at Sky?

Sky is very flexible, which is one of the great reasons I love working at Sky.

Also, working with different people who bring in their own experiences all under one roof. No matter where you come from, everyone rubs off on each other – not only the energy, but the experiences from past jobs as well.

Everyone’s happy. Everyone’s smiling. You enjoy your role. You want to come to work and there’s so much stuff you can do at Sky. There’s so much knowledge to gain from helping each other – no matter whether you’re in academy, or into your own teams.

What opportunities for growth and progression are there in your role?

We’ve been made aware from day one that there’s so many opportunities – so don’t think about coming to work just answering phone calls, because the opportunities and doors that await you can be knocked on.

You can actually take an idea and push yourself towards the boundaries that even I myself didn’t know I could be pushed towards, knowing that there are opportunities that are available literally on my lap.

It’s the guidance that you get towards the roles that you want to be, or who you want to become at Sky – which I think is fantastic.

What are the best benefits of working at Sky?

My favourite thing about working at Sky, is that I enjoy going to work. There’s free Sky, health insurance, share schemes where you put money into Sky shares, which is amazing!

The team, the senior managers, and and even your own personal managers as well. And finally the support, hands down.

What do you love about your role as a Customer Service Advisor at Sky?

I love helping customers, and getting the opportunity to have greater conversations too.

How are you made to feel included and supported at Sky?

I have few groups I’m involved in that continue to empower my growth and self-development. At Sky Stockport, we have the Black Sky Thinking Team – with this team, I and other members have a chance to promote a healthy change in our working environment, use our voices to speak for our black colleagues and create a space that’s comfortable, safe and empowering.

How would you describe the working environment at Sky, and is it anything like you expected before joining?

It’s relaxing and fun. If you want to chill and chat, there are spaces for that. If you want a bit of fun, there’s a pool table, games, and other activities you can join in with.

What opportunities are there at Sky to grow and develop your career?

There are so many opportunities, the list is endless. We constantly have great speakers to come in and talk.

There are opportunities to network through the different people you meet in other positions and join various groups. Just to name a few; you have Women@Sky, Multiculture@Sky, Mind&Body@Sky and so many more.

These spaces allow you to come as you are, and if you want to learn more and development, you’re not thrown into the deep end – you are coached, trained with lots of meetings. It’s progressive and steady which I really love.

What’s your favourite thing about working at Sky?

I constantly feel supported, especially when it comes to mental health. I know a lot of people that struggle with mental health, but here at Sky, it’s not a taboo. People genuinely want help and that makes me feel safe.

What’s it like to work in a Sky Contact Centre?

My name is Bavleen Kor, and my role is Customer Sales Advisor. It’s not just a generic Contact Centre role – it’s more focused on the conversations you’re having. You’re encouraged to build relationships rather than just focusing on making sales, which is pretty good because once you build that relationship, sales just come naturally.

What’s the best thing about working in a Sky Contact Centre?

The people that you work with, your colleagues, everyone’s just very welcoming. I already feel like I’m part of the Sky family.

My colleagues and I have already got chatting. We talk outside of work as well. When coming to work, it doesn’t feel like we’ve only known each other for a small amount of time; it feels I’ve known them for ages.

What’s the working environment like at a Sky Contact Centre?

Chilling. When you feel comfortable, I feel like a person can do their job better, which this this working environment exactly is.

This is my first ever Contact Centre job. So coming into a Sky Contact Centre especially, I thought it would be like a four-walled office; you’d sit down on a computer and just do your job – whereas when I actually came in, it was like “Wow.”.

The office, the people, the vibe – it’s amazing. It just blows you away. To be able to work where everything is made? You’re in the root of where it’s all started.

You don’t just feel that you work in the Call Centre. Regardless of what job you have at Sky, it’s all one big family.

What’s the best thing about working at a Sky Contact Centre?

It’s the opportunities for me, and the connections that you build.

There’s cheap lunches, free Sky, Hybrid Working – so having that flexibility to be able to come into the office two days and then working from home two days.

You get to experience whatever Sky has produced first. Those are some of the benefits!

What’s the best thing about working at Sky Stockport?

The best thing? I think it’s the community. We have a really good community of people, and just being around them is always great. Whether that’s on Team, or in the office.

There’s a great range of people here who are different and unique, and just like to be themselves.

What are the best benefits of working at Sky Stockport?

The relationships that you get, as well as the development – I’ve been on a massive journey through my development. I’d say that is probably the biggest one.

What makes you proud to work at Sky Stockport?

The things we do for people, like befriending – so we reach out to the elderly, and just have a nice chat with them.

What company does that? Just uses its time to just speak to people and make sure they’re okay. I’d say that’s what makes me really proud.

What does a day in the life of a Sales Account Consultant at Sky Business look like?

If you are owning a business; a bar or any hospitality sector, I’m your guy!

When you are giving us a call, I try to give you the best possible service, and I will be with you throughout your journey; from finding the right package, finding the right prices, installation, equipment, everything.

What’s the best thing about your role?

Talking to customers. From north to south, from east to west. This has been, by far, the best thing about the role.

And to see the smile on that customer’s face, I mean, it’s definitely an ultimate satisfaction.

How have you been made to feel supported and included your role?

Sky has been really helpful when it comes to Diversity and Inclusion. Especially my manager has been a massive help. The way I was welcomed by the team; it made me feel like it wasn’t the first time. It made me feel like that I’ve been here for quite some time.

Once I had joined Sky, the training could not be any better. From the team manager, from the learning and development, from the different managers, different team members.

Every single time, you know, I’m having a question, if they cannot help me, they will make sure that somebody will come back to me with an answer.

What’s the best benefit of working in Sky Business?

Who doesn’t like the free Sky, right? But it’s a very, very good name to go on your resume, definitely. The world is your oyster, to be honest.

What’s life like as a Sales Advisor in Sky Stockport?

The best thing about working for Sky is all the advisors and managers. They’re really good help – because I’m new, and there’s a lot of stuff that I’m overthinking, I’ve always got somebody like to talk to and just figure out whether I’m on the right lines.

There’s a lot of help, so you’ll never be short of that!

So far, I really enjoy it. It’s just a chill environment compared to a lot of other jobs I’ve done. I don’t feel very intimidated and I feel like I fit in really well.

I think it’s just the type of people by – everyone’s just very open, open-minded, and I just get along with everyone because they’re so friendly.

What does a day life of a Sales Advisor look like for you?

A day in the life for me and my role; I’ll come to work for nine o’clock, I make myself a cup of coffee, the most important part of  my day! I sit down at my desk and we have our 15 minute team brief, so I’ll chat to the guys in my team, make sure everyone’s doing okay.

We talk about the day we had yesterday, what our plans are moving forwards. I’ll have another cup of coffee, and then i’ll start actually taking calls, just waiting for my lunch.

We’ll get lunch and then, yeah, back on the phones, back taking calls, back talking to those amazing customers that we speak to.

How have you been supported and included at Sky Leeds?

I’ve only been here for two months, and like, working properly in the role and already I’ve been put up for promotions, I’ve been given a role model job – so, I’ve been really, fully, supported by my manager by the people around me.

My role models were so supportive of me, helping me get what I want to be, helping me do what I want to do – and then within my team, my manager, the people around me, are all supporting me.

Having weekly catch-ups, having daily meetings just to make sure everything is going okay. Yeah, fully supported within Sky.

What are the benefit of working at Sky Leeds?

I mean there’s so many benefits for working for Sky. I mean, free tea and coffee; what could be better on a Monday morning when you’re coming into work! We’ve got free Sky. We’ve got discounts on mobiles and broadband, and we get to work at an amazing office with loads of amazing people.

What does a day in the life as a Sales Advisor look like for you?

To be fair, a day at Sky is, pretty much none other you could ask for. I start at 8:30 in the morning, and then within that I’ve probably got at least two to three hours off the phones where I can just do anything I pretty much want to do, shall I say, with my time. I love my shifts, to be fair!

What’s the best thing about working at Sky Leeds?

The best thing about my role is the fact that I’m the first point of contact with the customers. The first thing that the customer hears from myself; that’s going to represent Sky is a company. Whatever I say on that first point of contact, I’ll always try to be upbeat and sell myself as well.

I’m upselling myself, when at the same time, I’m representing Sky.

What are the benefits of working at Sky Leeds?

There are plenty of benefits that I can go into, but the main benefits for myself is obviously the fact that I get free Sky. I’m a big Man United fan, so watching them TV – there’s probably no more you could ask for, really! And also, another thing is that you get good medical care, like dental care.

But mainly for me, is the free Sky. We work at Sky – come on!

How have you been made to feel supported and included at Sky?

At Sky, it’s a totally different compared to where I’ve been before. As soon as I walked through the door, I felt like I was walking into my Mum’s house – pretty much as simple as that. Sky is a whole, is almost like another family to me. My peers, my managers, they’re almost like my best friends – but just within work.

How are you made to feel included and supported at Sky?

We have so many different support networks and ways that we can be included in everything. There is always something new being looked at and our feedback is important to make changes to the systems we use daily.

I felt supported when I had to move from one department to another, and it was a very easy transition process.

How would you describe the working environment at Sky, and is it anything like you expected before joining?

When I first joined over 4 years ago, I had no idea what to expect. I always laughed at my brother when he told me what it was like.

I have never felt like I was anything other than a number for other places I’ve worked – but here, I feel I can be myself, and be seen as a person too.

What opportunities are there at Sky to grow and develop your career?

There are so many; with Stepping into Support, Stepping into Management, LinkedIn learning to help you develop too.

As well as shadowing and so much more that I cant even begin to explain.

What’s your favourite thing about working at Sky?

My favourite thing about working for Sky is not only the support you are given, but also the people you meet and the friendships that you gain too. It’s not just another job, it’s like family – just without the drama!