What does your role involve?
To assess and analyse training needs, design and develop solution proposals, and to deploy, review and measure their effectiveness against performance and business objectives for our 7,000 employees.
What are the best and worst things about the job?
The best is the challenge. I enjoy stretching ideas, staying on top of business developments and remaining up-to-date with new technical learning solutions. I also like the exposure to other training managers who are in the same challenging role and enjoy being an active part of the Institute of IT Training.
The worst is that too many people consider the role as a service, and not as a business to support the business-within-the-business.
What is your current major training project or strategic push?
We have to deploy a management-to-leadership programme to 600 managers this year. Content has to be aligned to HR and business processes. It will start with a training needs analysis and will have a measurable outcome. The project is big, but I am working with two fantastic suppliers.
What impact would you like to have on your organisation?
I want to take the organisation into the 22nd century and help them to realise that people management can equate to profitability. An organisation like ours has to have a learning culture.
I want to use all sorts of learning solutions that will keep us all motivated to come to work, work together and achieve high levels of success.
What did you want to do for a living when you were at school?
Work for a global company in an HR function.
Which of your qualifications do you most value and why?
My masters degree in employment law. It taught me to think and challenge as well as influence.
What do you think is the greatest challenge facing the training profession?
Being recognised and having a seat on the executive board.
What do you think will be the core skills for your job in the future?
I think we will need business skills, HR competencies, specialist training and management skills.
How do you think your job will have changed in five years’ time?
It will attract the best business managers.
How do you get the best from people?
I use humour and understanding and try to express ideas clearly.
What is the essential tool in your job?
The telephone.
And the most overrated?
E-mail.
Which is the best or most enjoyable management book you have ever read?
Anything by Jack Welch, former chief executive of US manufacturing giant GE.
Which gurus do you most admire or find most inspiring?
Jack Welch.
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Describe your dream job
The one I am doing , but with even more colleagues who understand what I am trying to achieve.
