Kate’s Journey To Head Of Operations
In honour of International Women’s Day 2026, we sit down with Kate Thomson, Head of Operations for Scotland, to explore her journey at Street League and the path that led her to where she is today.
Kate shares insights into the female mentors who have inspired her, challenges she has overcome, and how she balances her role as a leader with being a mum to her 4-year-old daughter. Kate also reflects on how Street League brings a ‘Give to Gain’ approach in the way they support, engage, and empower young women.
Having joined the organisation over 7 years ago, Kate Thomson (pictured), is now Street League's Head of Operations for Scotland.
Having joined Street League over seven years ago as a Progressions Coordinator, what inspired you to take that first step?
I’ve worked in employability for a long time since leaving school, so I was already familiar with Street League. I was always struck by how smart and professional the uniform and branding looked, and I remember thinking I would love to work there. That’s when a Progressions Coordinator opportunity came up in Clydebank, and I decided to apply. As part of the interview process, I had a practical assessment in Greenock where I delivered an employability workshop to a group of young people. In a real full-circle moment, I later went on to manage the Inverclyde team, and I look back on that time with some really happy memories.
After 18 months in the role, a secondment opportunity came up to manage what is now the West Scotland team, and I decided to apply. Although I had no prior management experience, I did have extensive experience within the employability world. In that role, I grew the team and consistently delivered excellent performance year in year out.
I’m now in the role of Head of Operations for Scotland, a position I’ve held for just over a year. I feel very fortunate to have been given such a valuable development opportunity within the organisation.
Did you ever imagine your journey would lead to becoming Head of the department?
No, I didn’t at the time. I suppose I’ve always tried to take a step up in any position I’ve held within the employability world. I started off as a modern apprentice myself based in schools, working with senior phase young people and I’ve always looked to challenge myself, but, if you were to ask me 7 and a half years ago would you now be in a Head of Operations role, I would’ve said no.
I’m so appreciative that I’ve been given the opportunity to work my way up in an organisation that supports young people, and I’m so passionate about the work we do.
Were there any mentors or women within the organisation who had a significant impact on your growth and development?
There are probably two stand out mentors for me in my time at Street League.
The first Operations Manager that hired me for the Progression’s Coordinator role was super supportive. She always believed in me and gave me so many great training opportunities. She left Street League not long after I started, however when she saw the Operations Manager job advertised, she contacted me and said she thought I should go for it. She asked to meet up for a coffee and provided me with loads of good advice and guidance which then gave me that push I needed to apply. I was always really appreciative of the fact she got back in touch and give me time out of her diary. She is always someone who sticks out to me as being a mentor and a positive role model.
Secondly, my current line manager who is also our Director of Operations has always pushed me to believe in myself and has given me the opportunity to represent Street League in various forums.
Outwith work, my mum is such a big role model of mine. I know that’s a cliché thing to say, but my mum was a single parent when I was growing up, and her work ethic has always been to work as hard as you can to get what you need, and that’s something that’s instilled in me. Even now, she’s always encouraging me to try new things and constantly rooting for me in the background.
Looking back on your journey, what have been some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced, and how did you navigate them?
I still feel challenged every day which I think is a good thing. I believe if you are in your comfort zone for too long, it’s not good for you. Even now, things still come up that I need to ask for help with or seek advice on.
But there are a few key challenges that stick out to me from my time at Street League so far, a main one being Covid. I started the role as Operations Manager in January 2020, and by February, I was in my house alone, trying to learn how to navigate and manage a team. We all had to adapt and keep up to date with the advice from the Government, as well as trying to support young people and do the job. That was definitely a big challenge, but I learned so much along the way.
Becoming a manager also meant I had to manage people I was peers with previously. I had to adapt my style in terms of my professional boundaries and how I dealt with them, from navigating difficult conversations to performance management. This was quite a significant period of time for me in the people management development aspect. But again, a great learning experience, and I always felt really respected by those people.
Of everything you’ve achieved so far, what are you most proud of (can be professionally, personally, or both)?
A few things stand out. Having been in this role and with the organisation for so long, you get to see many young people you’ve supported move into employment and watch them grow in themselves.
Another thing I’m proud of is our staff and seeing how they’ve developed over the years. Whether it’s moving on from Street League into management roles or progressing within the organisation, witnessing that growth is something I’m always truly proud of.
I love working full time and have always been committed to it, but this isn’t a job where you finish at 5pm and switch off. At home, I have a 4-year-old who likes to keep me on my toes. For me, it’s important to show her that you can have both, a successful career whilst being a great parent. Being a working mum and managing that balance is something I’m particularly proud of.
Lastly, how does Street League adopt a “Give to Gain” approach in the way they support, engage, and empower young women engaging with its services?
Our staff (both male and female) are committed to giving young women equal opportunities to grow, succeed, and build a fulfilling career.
We’ve adapted a host of things across the organisation to ensure we properly support young women. This includes everything from our marketing and branding, making sure our programmes and materials are more appealing and inclusive, to the content we deliver, all ensuring our female participants feel confident and prepared for the workplace.
Our kit and equipment have also been tailored to meet the needs of our female participants. We continue to develop and strengthen our female offer to ensure it is the best it can be.
A key part of this is listening to youth voice, which is central to our approach. Through our youth board and participant feedback, we actively involve the young women we support, using their experiences and insights to shape improvements and better support young females across the UK.