The
Home Farm Trust, a national charity for people with learning disabilities, has
taken on Jacqui Roynon as head of HR. She joins from cerebral palsy charity
Scope, where she worked as HR manager for six years. At Scope, she was responsible
for develop-ing and delivering an HR strategy for five operating areas. She
also has private sector experience from HR posts at Tesco, Cable & Wireless
and Gallileo.
What
will be the duties in your new role?
I’m
responsible for the overall organisational HR strategy for Home Farm Trust
(HFT), including all aspects of resourcing, learning and reward, and health and
safety management.
What
do you hope to achieve in your new role?
HFT
is in the midst of a massive change, and is undergoing major service
redevelopment as part of its five-year strategic plan. As a member of the
operational management team, I hope to enable the organisation to develop and
implement people strategies to support these developments.
Which
aspects of the job are you most looking forward to?
Working
with a group of individuals who are focused on, and dedicated to, improving the
lives of people with learning disabilities.
What
is the strangest situation you have been in at work?
To
brighten up a dull training course, I was challenged to weave song lyrics from
the Rocky Horror Show into a presentation without the tutor noticing. I
succeeded.
How
do you think the role of HR will change over the next five years?
As
basic HR systems and processes are increasingly automated and outsourced, I
believe the effective HR specialist of the future to be even more focused on
developing specific people strategies to deliver the overall business goals.
Who
is the ultimate guru?
There
is no one single person I would describe as the ultimate guru. I have been
inspired by a number of people in my life – mostly ordinary people in ordinary
situations, acting in extraordinary ways.
What
is your essential viewing?
The
Today programme for my life at work, and Sponge Bob Square Pants for my life as
a mum.
What
is the best thing about Human Resources?
The
diversity and complexity of the subjects we get involved in, and the positive
impact we can have.
And
the worst?
The
darker parts of human nature you sometimes have to deal with.
What
is the greatest risk you have ever taken?
Abseiling
down a rock face in Devon.
What
is the essential tool in your job?
The
ability to ask the right questions at the right time and listen to the answer.
What
advice would you give to people starting out in HR?
Get
a broad base of experience in different types of organisations and industry
sectors before specialising.
Do
you network?
Yes
– but I could (and should) do more
If
you could do any job in the world, what would it be?
Colin
Firth’s personal assistant.
Who
would play you in the film of your life and why?
Julie
Walters, because she is my favourite actress, and she might even be able to
make me seem cool.
Roynon’s
CV
2003
Head of HR, Home Farm Trust
1997
HR manager, Scope
1995
HR officer, Galileo
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1993
HR officer, Mercury Communications
1990
Personnel planning officer, Tesco Stores
