In the Spotlight: Bitesize Bio’s Workflow Support Co-ordinator

This month’s spotlight is on Jane Gray, Bitesize Bio’s Workflow Support Coordinator. Here’s what we found out from Jane about the intersection of art, admin, and science.

How Jane Got Here

Jane’s journey to Bitesize Bio began with an unexpected twist – COVID-19. While studying at university, the lockdowns hit during her second year, prompting her to start volunteering with a local group where she met Fiona. Drawing on her admin and operations background, Jane began helping with the group’s administrative needs.

This connection proved pivotal. When Jane graduated, she was looking for part-time work, and the timing “dovetailed quite nicely” with Bitesize Bio’s needs. Despite not having a scientific background, her varied experience as an operations manager for a web design company, along with her sales experience and willingness to “jump in wherever I can help,” made her a perfect fit.

Her path wasn’t always straightforward. After graduating from university with a textile design degree, Jane’s first job was as a “teddy bear administrator” at a teddy bear hospital in Leith. While she loved the creative team and the work they did restoring beloved toys and dolls for families, the daily commute proved too challenging. This unique experience, however, speaks to Jane’s openness to unexpected opportunities and her appreciation for creative, meaningful work.

Jane’s Superpower

Jane’s superpower lies in her versatility and fearless approach to learning. As she puts it, “I’m not generally put off by things, I’m super keen to learn new things.” This jack-of-all-trades mentality has served her well in her current role as Workflow Support Coordinator, where she manages the Workflow Support team and tackles various projects.

What truly sets Jane apart is her ability to see projects through from start to finish. “I love seeing a project through from the start to the end,” she explains. This completion-focused mindset, combined with her willingness to learn new software systems and jump into unfamiliar territories, makes her invaluable to the team.

Jane’s adaptability has also taught her patience and flexibility – skills she’s had to develop at Bitesize Bio. As someone who naturally loves ticking things off lists, she’s learned that “it doesn’t always happen as soon as I would like,” helping her adapt a more balanced “it’ll be there tomorrow” approach.

Her artistic background brings a unique perspective to her work, and she’s already brainstorming creative contributions to Bitesize Bio, such as creating science-themed coloring sheets for the audience, combining her artistic skills with the company’s educational mission.

Jane Outside of Work

Outside of Bitesize Bio, Jane runs her own textile design business, Jane Gray Design. What started as pencil drawings inspired by the Scottish countryside has evolved into a growing business creating textile illustrations. Her work celebrates everything she enjoys in life – from nature scenes to the occasional gin bottle.

Jane’s commitment to sustainability shines through her business approach. Working in the textile industry, she’s conscious of not adding to textile waste, carefully considering her processes and materials. Her artistic inspiration comes from her childhood in southwest Scotland, where she grew up in what friends describe as “an Enid Blyton book” setting – surrounded by woods, fields, and beaches.

Her creative pursuits extend beyond drawing. When she’s not creating art, Jane enjoys baking (particularly bread making), which provides a structured contrast to her free-flowing artistic process. “The baking actually makes me stick to like an ingredient list,” she notes, finding it surprisingly relaxing.

Jane’s dream destination is New Zealand, topping her travel bucket list. But her heart remains tied to Sandhead Beach near her hometown of Stranraer, where palm trees grow thanks to the Gulf Stream and the water is actually warm enough for swimming – a rare treat in Scotland.

If she won the lottery, she would head straight to New Zealand, then return to start a hospitality business, combining her love of being hospitable with her entrepreneurial spirit. For now, she’s content building her design business while contributing her unique blend of creativity, versatility, and practical skills to the Bitesize Bio team.

Want more stories like this? Subscribe to The Growth Factor and get ideas and inspiration for life science marketing. Sign up here.