From a bakery conversation to a 10-year career

Some career journeys start with a plan. Others begin with a conversation that sticks with you.

For Marta, that conversation happened while working in a local bakery. One of her regular customers worked for Ladbrokes and would often stop by in the company’s bright red uniform. Over time, their chats sparked a curiosity about the business and the people behind it.

More than 10 years later, Marta is now a People Operations Coordinator in Nottingham, supporting colleagues across the business and helping them get the support they need. What started as a chance conversation became the beginning of a career she never expected.

Tell us about your role at Entain

I’m a People Operations Coordinator based in Nottingham. My role is all about supporting colleagues across the business and helping them find the right solutions when they need support.

No two days are ever the same, which is one of the things I enjoy most. Every conversation is different, and every situation brings a new challenge. I enjoy being able to help people and knowing I’ve made someone’s day a little easier.

How did your Entain journey begin?

Before joining Entain, I worked in a bakery and spent a lot of time chatting to the regular customers who came in each day. One customer in particular worked for Ladbrokes and would often come in wearing his company uniform.

The more we spoke, the more curious I became about the business. It sounded like a place full of opportunities and good people. At the time, I had no idea those conversations would eventually lead to my own career here, but looking back, that’s where it all started.

What was your first role with the business?

I started my career in retail, and it gave me a brilliant introduction to the company. The thing I loved most was the customers. I enjoyed getting to know people, building relationships and seeing familiar faces come through the door every day.

Working in retail taught me a lot about people and how to adapt to different situations. It also gave me confidence and helped me develop skills that I still use today.

How did you move into People Operations?

While I was working in retail, I was also studying HR at university. The more I learned, the more interested I became in understanding the people side of the business and how organisations support their employees.

When an opportunity came up in People Operations, I decided to go for it. It felt like the right next step and gave me the chance to combine what I was studying with a role where I could support people every day.

What has kept you at Entain for more than 10 years?

The simple answer is the people.

Over the years I’ve had the opportunity to work with fantastic colleagues, learn new skills and take on different challenges. I’ve always felt supported to keep growing and to explore opportunities that interest me.

I think I realised quite early on that this was somewhere I could build a long-term career. More than a decade later, that feeling hasn’t changed.

What do you enjoy most about your role today?

Helping people is still my favourite part of the job.

Whether it’s helping someone find an answer, supporting them through a challenge or simply being there when they need guidance, I enjoy being able to make a difference.

People have always been at the heart of the roles I’ve enjoyed most. From working with customers in retail to supporting colleagues today, that’s the common thread throughout my career.

What might surprise people about working at Entain?

I think a lot of people would be surprised by how many different opportunities there are across the business.

My own career has taken me from retail into People Operations, and along the way I’ve learned new skills, met great people and continued to develop. If you’re willing to be curious and try something new, there are lots of different paths you can take.

That’s one of the things I’ve always appreciated most. There are opportunities to keep learning, keep growing and keep finding new ways to challenge yourself.

What advice would you give to someone considering their next career move?

Be curious and don’t be afraid to give something new a try.

You don’t always know where an opportunity will lead, and that’s okay. Sometimes the best things happen when you step outside your comfort zone and say yes to something different.

If there’s one thing my own career has taught me, it’s that you never know where a single conversation might take you. Mine started in a bakery and led to more than 10 years with Entain.