Atlanta Somers, Senior Operations Manager for Medequip in Wiltshire was voted Manager of the Year at Big Thank You Day 2025 by a jury of her peers. Here, she talks about her journey at Medequip, what matters to her, the importance of teamwork and how support from the company has opened up a career she had never imagined in health and social care.
Atlanta joined Medequip seven years ago, and openly admits it was initially a stopgap move for her. Having made the decision to leave school and enter the world of work, she originally took the job to tide her over after working for some time in a family business. So what changed her mind?
“I started work in the warehouse and here I am, seven years and six promotions later, a Senior Operations Manager and bowled over by being voted Manager of the Year,” she laughed. “When I first joined Medequip, I very quickly identified not just the opportunity to progress in a rewarding career but also the levels of job satisfaction I was enjoying. I found it fascinating to get to grips with the company’s objectives, to understand the challenges and most of all, to feel I was playing an important part in the community and helping some of the most vulnerable people.”
“When I first left school, I really didn’t expect to be able to progress in a career. My example demonstrates that even without a university education, you can ultimately get somewhere significant in life, with a combination of hard work and the right support from the company and the people you work with. I am extremely grateful to Medequip for recognising my potential, for investing in me and guiding me to where I am today.”
Atlanta is one of the first participants in Medequip’s LEAD (Learn, Engage, Accelerate and Deliver) leadership development programme which began last year, and is designed to build on an individual’s experience and confidence to become effective leaders capable of inspiring others.
“Over the years, Medequip has been extremely supportive, and my line managers have always been on hand to offer guidance and advice,” she said. “In my current role as a multi-site manager, the experience and shared best practice from my colleagues plays a vital role in helping me to give my best, every day.”
What does Atlanta enjoy most about her job? “I’m motivated by the overall outcomes,” she explained. “I value what Medequip achieves in the community and love the part I play in that. I enjoy really good working relationships with my teams, and am constantly challenged by the fast pace and ‘busyness’ of our work, the pressures and, at the end of the day, feeling satisfied with what I have achieved. I love my job – I simply can’t see myself ever doing anything else.”
There are challenges too in a role where no two days are ever the same, from logistical issues like vehicle breakdowns through to managing expectations when inevitably people don’t always get the answers they want. What does a typical day look like for Atlanta?
“No such thing, really,” she explained. “I’ll come in to work and begin by speaking to the regional team on site. We have a daily management meeting to discuss any issues arising to help us adopt a proactive approach to the challenges of the day. From there, I may be talking with Commissioners and prescribers, dealing with staffing levels, helping the team, managing logistical pressures. Every day is different, which adds to the challenges and the enjoyment of the work.”
Atlanta is a people person, and enjoys interaction with her teams, finding rewards in problem solving for individuals as well as processes. Is this why she was voted Manager of the Year?
“I think it was because I am always committed to keeping my promises,” she said. “I enjoy strong and positive relationships with staff and management, and I hope that promotes confidence and trust. I believe in an open-door policy for everyone, and maintain that no problem is too big – there’s always a solution. I consider myself extremely fortunate - I have the best job and a fantastic team of people around me, all of whom are committed to maintaining the Medequip values and providing the very best service we can for the people who need us.”