Tell us a little bit about what you do?
My role is quite broad, focusing on ensuring our People, Culture, and Talent team meets the expectations of our staff and leadership. I handle recruitment with my colleagues, ensuring we have a pipeline of candidates who are not only technically skilled but also fit our culture. I also look at organisational design to prepare us for the future and work with various teams to establish career frameworks and competencies that drive growth and learning. Additionally, I work on improving communication with people like Helen Murphy and support audit processes by collaborating with the growth team and clients. My role involves a lot of ad-hoc tasks and reacting to immediate needs, all aimed at supporting our success.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
I love interacting with all levels of the organisation daily. It gives me perspective and helps me learn about individuals, reminding me of my early career days. Engaging with senior leaders furthers my knowledge and career. Most importantly, I enjoy seeing junior employees grow into senior roles, developing as individuals, and creating an environment for their success.
What does a typical day look like for you?
There isn’t a typical day for me. I might focus on recruitment, discuss support for employees with the People, Culture, and Talent team, interact with vendors, or review performance management cycles. Unpredictability is a constant, as I often need to support others spontaneously. I always try to take a walk at lunchtime to get fresh air and reflect, which helps me recharge for the rest of the day.
Which of our company values resonate with you the most?
“We succeed together” resonates the most with me. It emphasises the importance of collaboration and growth, which are crucial for our company’s success.
What would you say has been your most significant achievement or the one you are most proud of whilst working at Dufrain?
I’m proud of enhancing maternity and paternity leave and introducing private medical insurance. This has positively impacted our employees’ lives. Implementing an HR system called Bob was also a major achievement. It was a team effort in its implementation but it has improved efficiency and performance management, integrating features like payroll and making processes more transparent.
Who inspires you the most within Dufrain?
There’s so many, I couldn’t just name one person. I’ll list the ones off the top of my head, but in all honesty I could have listed even more:
Charlotte Lester – Her passion, positive attitude, and willingness to learn are inspiring. She is the positive champion in the team and she pushes all of us to be better versions of ourselves.
Sean Kenny – His adaptability, professionalism, and ability to connect with everyone is such a rare but key skill. Sean has worn a few hats now and always applies the same work ethic, drive and humility to his roles.
Faye Heaton and Michael Corris – Their efforts in building communities and driving our culture forward are awesome. They are part of a team doing this but they both epitomise the drive and effort we all need to take to enhance the places we work in.
Which work benefit or perk is your favourite and why?
Private medical insurance is my favourite perk because of its positive impact on employees’ lives. I also appreciate the flu vaccination scheme, which helps keep us healthy during the winter months. I didn’t have it one year and got the flu at Christmas so I have learnt my lesson.
What’s the best advice you can give to someone who wants to work for us?
Be proactive, learn technology, participate in internal activities, and take charge of your training and career development. Don’t wait for the company to lead; if you take the initiative, you’ll be supported.
What skill do you think everyone should learn?
Humility is essential. Recognise that you’ve reached your current position with the help of others. Reflection is also important, appreciating your journey and learning from both highs and lows.
What your favourite film?
I don’t have a single favourite film, but I enjoy “Gladiator” as I have always enjoyed the history of Ancient Rome. Don’t get me started on Gladiator 2 for its historical inaccuracies. “It’s a Wonderful Life” is another favourite for its powerful message about the importance of every individual’s life, which resonates with mental health awareness. I interpret the film as saying we all matter, and we can all make a difference even if we don’t always realise it ourselves.