Waterhouse’s Finest: Sharon Dodson brings us along for a day in her life as Chelmsford Centre Manager 

To say Sharon Dodson’s job is multi-faceted would be a vast understatement. As Centre Manager for our Waterhouse Business Centre in Chelmsford, as well as the Health and Safety Officer for all of our sites, Sharon never quite knows what’s going to land on her plate each morning. Nevertheless, she brought us along to see what a day in her life could look like – though it probably won’t look the same tomorrow. 

Introducing Sharon Dodson 

For nearly eight years, Sharon Dodson has been at the helm of Waterhouse Business Centre, overseeing the day-to-day operations of one of Chelmsford’s most vibrant business communities. Before taking on her current role, she held other positions within Capital Space, steadily working her way up and gaining deep insight into how the company supports SMEs across Essex. 

Waterhouse Business Centre serves entrepreneurs and small businesses from Chelmsford, Braintree, Witham and Maldon, providing offices, workshops and studios for up to 20 people. The site also offers meeting rooms and virtual office services. 

Sharon’s role blends operational oversight with people skills and plenty of practical problem-solving. “No two days are ever the same,” she explained. “That’s what keeps the job interesting.” 

8:30am – What’s on the agenda for today 

The week begins with a minor staffing challenge. One of Sharon’s Business Support Coordinators, Cath, is on annual leave, and the centre is hosting a free NHS Health Check event — back by popular demand after the success of the first one earlier this year. 

However, the day gets off to a bumpy start when the health check van arrives with a leaky roof, leaving water all over the examination cubicle. “It was all hands on deck,” Sharon laughed. “We had to mop up the mess and set up a meeting room quickly so the first appointments could go ahead.” 

The event draws in numerous partners, including Active Essex, The Robin Cancer Trust, Healthwatch Essex, Andy’s Man Club, Chelmsford Library and Barclays Digital Wings. As customers start arriving for appointments and to chat with the partners, Sharon ensures everything is running smoothly before heading out for her routine site inspection. 

10:30am – Check in 

During her walkaround with Alan, the Facilities Handyperson, Sharon notices that a customer has been putting general waste in the food recycling bin. Since new government legislation introduced mandatory food waste separation for businesses in England in March of this year, the team installed food caddies in communal kitchens to help customers comply. 

After a quick chat with the customer to explain the new process, Sharon returns to reception — just in time to meet a business owner hoping to downsize their office. Thanks to Capital Space’s flexible monthly licence, customers can easily request a change of unit with only a month’s notice. “We only had one office available, but I arranged a viewing for this afternoon,” she said. “It’s always exciting to help customers visualise how their new space could work.” 

Meanwhile, Sharon chats with Stu, one of the day’s event partners, who offers to give a talk on scams and fraud prevention at the centre’s next networking event — a collaboration Sharon is keen to set up. 

12:30pm – Check in 

In addition to managing Waterhouse Business Centre, Sharon also serves as Capital Space’s Health and Safety Officer, ensuring that all sites comply with regulations. “It’s a lot of responsibility, but safety is something I take seriously,” she said. 

Today’s tasks include reviewing fire logbooks and accident reports and arranging a walkaround with Alan to confirm that fire exits are clear, signage is correct and there are no hazards. “Everything’s in order, which is always good news,” she noted. 

While Sharon handles compliance, her team members Mandy and Jeannene are busy directing visitors and fielding phone calls. With the morning flying by, she moves on to her next major task: coordinating the meeting room diary for 2026. 

Capital Space’s centres regularly host internal meetings to share best practice and discuss operational improvements. “It takes some juggling to line up everyone’s availability,” Sharon said, “but we got there in the end.” 

4:30pm – Check in  

The customer interested in downsizing arrives for their office viewing and seems keen, but the final decision rests with their Managing Director, who’s away on holiday. Sharon remains optimistic: “We’ve had a lot of enquiries for this unit, so I had to be clear that we can’t hold it indefinitely. However, with our flexible licences, we have the agility to process the required paper super-fast, so fingers crossed the MD gives the go-ahead, and we’ll be able to provide a quick turnaround!” 

Next, Sharon tackles another facilities task: reviewing the legionella checklist with Alan. After clarifying a few points with Facilities Manager Tim from head office, they complete the process. 

5:30pm – Check in 

Just as the day is winding down, a report comes in: a toilet in the ladies’ bathroom is blocked. With Alan already clocked off, Sharon grabs her gloves and a plunger. “It’s actually quite satisfying seeing the water run away again,” she said. 

By the end of the day, the health check event has been a huge success, with every appointment slot booked out and customers leaving happy. “It’s been hectic but rewarding,” Sharon reflected. “We’ve built a real community here, and days like this remind me how much I love my job.” 

A final word and advice to business owners 

For Sharon, success in centre management comes down to adaptability and teamwork. “Every day brings something different — you just have to stay flexible and ready to help in whatever way you can,” she said. 

She’s also quick to point out that the businesses thriving at Waterhouse Business Centre share similar traits: “The most successful SMEs here are proactive, open to collaboration and make the most of the opportunities we provide — whether that’s joining in on community events, networking or using our meeting rooms to grow their client base.” 

Despite a hectic day, and a tomorrow which will undoubtably bring a host of new and unexpected challenges, Sharon leaves the office satisfied: “I’m leaving today with lots of happy, healthy customers. I love my job!” 

If you’re looking for office space from a provider that wants to support your business success, get in touch.