To mark our 50th anniversary, we’re speaking to several long-serving colleagues at MSI UK to hear more about their experiences.
In this interview, we spoke to Mandy, Senior Client Care Coordinator, who has excitingly completed 26 years at MSI UK – meaning that she has worked for MSI for half the time that we have been providing services.
We talk about the different roles she’s worked in, some fun projects she’s approached and the valuable connections that she has made.
“I think having equality in choice is so important. People should be encouraged and empowered to take control of their contraception and sexual health.”
How and why did you start working for MSI UK?
I started working here in July 1999. I joined as they needed cover for holidays and sickness at the Bristol Centre, and 26 years later, I’m still here!
How has your role progressed?
I first worked in admin at the Bristol clinic. This was varied role, you never knew what tomorrow would bring. I loved working at the Bristol clinic; there was never a dull moment.
The vasectomy department had just been transferred from MSI’s London office. Paper notes arrived in boxes, and we took the reins from there. Soon after I became a permanent fixture, working 3 days a week.
In the beginning I was clinic-based and concentrated on vasectomy services. A client would phone, we booked their appointment and then followed their journey right to the end of their care. It was quite a personal service and one that I really enjoyed.
Due to business changes, my original role was no longer required. However, recognising the value of my experience, my manager was eager to retain my expertise. As a result, I moved to the marketing team to help drive our promotional efforts for vasectomy forward.
What sort of things did you do in this new role?
I started to raise awareness of our vasectomy services locally, but this soon progressed to promoting all MSI services, and thinking: “where can I reach large groups of people that might need us?”
This transpired to sharing about our services by taking a stand to campuses, freshers fairs, festivals, sexual health events, football grounds, GP services – I even took our stand to a prison service (to speak to staff), an army base and Westminster!
It wasn’t possible to reach everyone digitally, so we would leave leaflets and information wherever possible. We would speak to meet face-to-face with as many healthcare professionals as we could.
Our awareness-raising activities were playful but with a serious message. We had a fun character called “Wilbert Willy” who was dressed as many characters but always wearing a condom!
Sex education wasn’t on the school curriculum at the time, so an MSI team would visit sixth forms in schools and discuss and inform young people about safe sex, contraception and abortion. We also had a website, specifically designed for 15–24-year-olds called “Like it is”.
It always evolved – I’d speak to one person, and they’d put me in touch with another. In each of our clinics we developed a team of colleagues who mirrored the same tasks to promote awareness our services in their area making their own contacts. This helped to connect so many people locally.
The nurses and admin staff were brilliant, as this was new to all of us. They embraced it and we all enjoyed it. It was a real collective effort and all the teams worked hard together creating a great connection between the clinics. Our attendance at events helped us to build and maintain relationships with the CCG’s (now called Integrated Care Boards – NHS organisations responsible for planning, funding, and coordinating health services locally). There were so many projects that we got involved in. We would do things locally, and they’d spread nationally, being tweaked for each area so that they were relevant and effective.
I then moved on to work solely within our vasectomy services working with the best team to provide local services for vasectomy. This involved helping to set up clinics, provide all the medical equipment and medication, doctors, nurses and admin staff. Our team often took turns to work at the clinics to provide aftercare and any assistance needed. It took us far and wide across the country getting us all involved. It was a collective effort which we all enjoyed and worked hard at.
Later in my time at MSI, I have come to work at MSI Connect Bristol, one of MSI’s call centres, as a Senior Client Care Coordinator, completing vasectomy and LARC (long-acting reversible contraception) consultations, as well as call monitoring. I have been in this role for over two years, again helped along by our lovely team.
Have you ever faced backlash or stigma for the work that you do?
Apart from the occasional verbal protester I have mostly felt support for our services. I was happy that I was only ever an observer when, for example, I attended university debates as they could become quite intense, but it was good to watch us tackle stigma and change people’s perception about reproductive healthcare.
Can you talk to us about any fun projects or work that you’ve done that sticks out in your time at MSI?
We once took a branded MSI double decker bus to the centre of Bristol on ‘Mad Friday’ (the Friday before Christmas) to promote safe sex. We gave away condoms from big name brands. The clinic staff all attended giving contraceptive advice to the public.
On World Contraception Day, we projected an image of sperm raining down on an umbrella with on the council buildings at Bristol College Green. It was getting darker, everyone was walking home from work, school and university, so it grabbed their attention as we handed out leaflets and condoms, promoting safe sex. Now, when I am writing this it all, it seems like a funny concept – but it worked at the time!
Another exciting time was when we aired our one and only TV advertisement for our abortion services.
How do you feel aligned with the MSI mission?
I think having equality in choice is so important. People should be encouraged and empowered to take control of their contraception and sexual health.
I’m passionate about choice being there for everyone.
Are there any memorable people that have helped or mentored you throughout your time at MSI?
So many people have helped me in my career here and given me opportunities. My managers in the marketing team were so nurturing and patient, I came up with so many ideas that were unusable, but they never dampened my spirits and were nothing but encouraging. The brainstorming sessions were so important because they lead into many other useful ideas. Some things in the idea stage were very good; some were very bad – but it was always fun!
I’ve made so many friends over the years and created some really good memories, and I have only scratched at the surface of the tasks I have been involved in.
Is there any advice you’d give to people who are starting their careers with MSI UK today, 26 years later?
I think I’d say to prioritise the connections you can make with your colleagues and team members. Meeting people face to face, when you can, makes such a difference to relationships. It’s been interesting, to say the least!
Read more from our colleagues
At MSI UK, we love interviewing our colleagues to find out more about their work and how their roles contribute to our mission to deliver quality reproductive healthcare. You can read some of our latest interviews here.
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