When Englishman Ian Bellingham joined the Royal Navy over 20 years ago he would never have suspected that he would eventually be running a call centre in Waterford. Indeed just over four years ago Ian Bellingham and his wife did not know that they would be living in Ireland but at the time they did want a change from living in the UK.
"I had spent 23 years in the Navy and travelled the world in that time but I knew I wanted to do something different. In 1997 myself and my wife were visiting friends who live near Waterford and we really liked it. We made our minds up to move here, looked into buying a plot of land to build a house - which was pretty cheap at the time - designed and had it built while we remained in England," says the former sailor who received an MBE this year for his outstanding service and duty.
In May 2000 even though he was awaiting promotion above the rank of lieutenant Ian Bellingham formally left the force and in the month following, the Bellinghams moved across the Irish sea.
"It's a great place," he says. "It's been so easy to settle in. Nothing has been made difficult for us. I have friends who have tried to move to other countries like Australia and Canada but they found it really difficult to get in and live there just because of the immigration rules and policies. I didn't even need my passport to come here. I just got myself a job, a PRSI number and a bank account and that was that."
If the transition to Ireland was smooth, Ian Bellingham is conscious that after so long in the military that he has to be aware of the way he talks and deals with other people in a civilian capacity.
After approaching Rigney Dolphin for employment in the area Ian Bellingham was placed in charge of the recruitment company's latest division, the Iota call centre.
Asked if his background as a communications specialist in the Navy helps him in this new role he replies: "Well, I've never actually run a call centre before but high tech communications was my area of expertise in the service. But even more important than that you build up a lot of leadership skills over the years. I would have to say that experience and integrity are probably the most important things to have in a management position."
