Why did you join Hays?
Hays is a major player in the recruitment industry, and having met a number of people as part of the recruitment process, I was super impressed with the company’s structure, culture and ambition.
Tell us about your career with Hays so far (including desk, specialism etc)
I joined Hays in 2020 as Senior Business Manager to support the London rail and engineering division. Since then, I have progressed to the role of Business Director.
As a member of the Black Network, what does that mean for you as a Hays employee?
I’m very proud to be a member of the Black Network. I’m pleased that the importance of these kind of networks has been recognised and implemented by Hays. Having these networks in place allows those that identify with them to feel a sense of belonging, safety and acceptance, which in turns supports individuals to perform to their full potential.
What is next for the Black Network?
These networks won’t reach their full potential and make a difference without members,so I would encourage anyone who identifies with any of the Hays Networks to reach out and come along to meetings. As for the Black Network, we’d like to continue to raise awareness.
Do you think the Black Network contributes to Hays’ commitment of creating an inclusive workplace?
Yes, I believe this is the case. The fact we have a black network demonstrates this. However, like all of the community groups, it takes everybody in the workplace to support this to make Hays a truly inclusive place to work.
Why did you join Hays?
I worked at another agency before joining Hays and was attracted to both the location and the career progression. At my previous business there seemed very little option other than being on desk, but at Hays, there were genuine long term career options.
Tell us about your career with Hays so far (including desk, specialism etc)?
Although I’ve always been part of C&P, having worked on a facilities management desk at my previous client, I’ve worked in three different businesses and on a variety of desks. I started in our Maidstone office running a mixed maintenance section supplying both blue collar and white collar workers across Kent. I was then offered an opportunity to move to our Bromley office to specialise in contract building services. Almost five years later I moved to take over the Building Services team in London and grow the business there. Since then, I’ve moved desk a few times, notably moving to four days a week and taking over our Town Planning desk when my first child was born. Last year, due to some internal moves and hires, I moved back to Building Services and now manage a number of our C&P businesses across London Central.
What learning and development support have you received throughout all stages of your career?
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed all the training sessions I’ve received, although they’ve changed name several times over the past 16 years. I’ve always felt very supported at each stage and with each promotion.
How important has the management support been to achieve your goals?
I’ve been lucky to work for a number of great managers during my time and have learnt a lot from all of them to help shape my business and my way of running my own team.
What would be your advice to anyone starting their management career at Hays?
Go for it – it’s stressful and not always smooth sailing but incredibly rewarding seeing consultants develop and get promoted into management roles themselves.
What has been your biggest achievement at Hays?
A mixture of things. I’ve billed a decent amount of money and have always been at the top – or near the top – of my sub specialism fees… a PB of over £65k helps. But getting my consultants promoted has always been a big driver to me, and seeing consultants move into management and director level roles always means a lot to me.
My working life started out as a wet-behind-the-ears 18-year-old in the insurance industry, followed by, of all things, grading and cutting dresses for a couture ladies fashion house, then three years at Uni reading Business Marketing (whatever that was). What I learned at Uni was that a) I didn’t want to work in Insurance, and b) I didn’t want to cut and grade dresses, but what I did discover was that I did want to leave my home in the North West and move to London. So followed 200+ letters applying for any role that would get me there.
I was invited along to a recruitment company called Montrose (later to become Hays Montrose, then Hays Construction & Property) in Victoria – three intense interviews in the space of a week and the start of my recruitment career commenced on the 3rd of January 1995.
Two years supporting North London councils with temporary civil & and structural engineers (my first ever placement was at the London Borough of Haringey!) was followed by a relocation back to the North West – this time working in Manchester, and my first real step into team leadership. A couple of years leading our construction team led to a further opportunity to have the keys to my very first stand-alone office in Liverpool.
Growing this office led to further expansion into the Chester and Warrington areas, and then my first big step up into a regional sector specialist role, focussing on trades and labour supply across the whole north of the UK. Following this, sector lead roles across permanent appointments and the public sector, then into a regional director’s role across Lancashire & Cumbria. More recently I relocated (again, I know) to Leeds to lead our Yorkshire & North region in the role of regional MD.
All the way along this journey I have been committed to not just being another supplier to local markets; instead, I have made myself an integral component.. How? The provision of the very best recruitment services – yes, that’s a given, but also giving back to the communities we serve. Membership of industry-specific professional bodies, governorship of a college, employment advisor for local schools, board director for a pension scheme, director of a multi academy trust – all of these invaluable experiences have provided me with a very powerful and insightful view of experiences outside of Hays, too.
What have I learned over my 29-year career (to date – a few more to go I trust!)? Well, lots, but to highlight a few of the key ones:
- Go and look for opportunity and when you see it, grasp it – the good people you have around you will support you
- Will out-performs skill every day of the week
- Be an integral element in your community, give back
- You have a far higher level of resilience than you gave yourself credit for
- It pays to enjoy your working life as much as you possibly can – it’s a good thing to laugh and smile at work!
- Difficult and challenging messages can still be delivered with kindness
- Do not over commit – it’s OK to say ‘no’ in business (for the right reasons and done in the right way)
- Do not resist change, embrace itSavour life outside of work – never neglect your own well-being, keep close to your loved ones
Writing this blog has allowed me to reflect on a very special and fulfilling career to date, and that makes me feel very proud.
I’ve met some brilliant people along the way, I’ve had the great fortune of having some truly inspirational bosses to learn from, I’veworked on projects that have shaped the future of our company, I’ve impacted customers’ lives by getting them the role they always wanted (my very last placement in a Manchester housing association!) or filled that job that no-one else could, and I’ve witnessed the development of some truly brilliant people into not just the best recruiters out there, but also into even better mums and dads, husbands and wives, people who I’m privileged to call my friends.
