Staff stories
Paul Wykes – Head of environmental services
I began my local government career in 1994 as a street cleaner at South Somerset District Council. During my seven years at South Somerset, I occupied a number of operational roles before I was promoted to Waste Project Officer, supporting recycling and street cleaning initiatives. During this time, the council funded my BTEC in Business and Finance, and I later completed a Supervisory Management course.
The council continued with their investment by funding an Open University degree in Technology, where I focussed on IT, Complexity Management and Mathematics. I joined Test Valley Borough Council in 2001 as Assistant Contract Services Manager, seeing subtle changes to my job role until I became Head of Environmental Services in 2008. What I value most about TVBC is the collaborative, non-hierarchical culture—everyone works together with kindness and accountability to deliver for our communities. The council has supported my development through the years, more recently through Senior Management Forum and involvement in the transformation programme, which allows me to contribute beyond my day-to-day role. TVBC feels like a family, and I’m proud to be part of a team that genuinely looks after one another for the benefit of its residents and communities.