Since joining HR Solutions, Victoria was promoted from HR Advisor to HR Knowledge Manager. As well as her CIPD accomplishments, she is a qualified Mental Health at work First Aider which enables her to be the point of contact for an employee who may be experiencing mental health issues or emotional distress.
Victoria had a great start to her HR career, from a work experience role within an HR department whilst she was still at college. Six months after graduating from college, the same company contacted her and invited her to join them as an apprentice HR administrator. She said yes and the rest is history! Victoria studied for her CIPD qualification whilst working in HR and graduated in 2003. Previous HR roles have given her experience within an Education Trust working with academy schools, BGL (you will know them for the Meerkat’s adverts!), Barclaycard, Northgate HR Outsourcing and RCI.
During Victoria’s 7 years at RCI, she progressed her HR career in a number of roles across the HR function where upon graduating with the CIPD she became a qualified HR Advisor. Victoria’s career then moved to outsourcing where she specialised in Employee Relations. More recently whilst at BGL, her career developed further where she took on HR Management roles before returning to a generalist HR role following a period of maternity leave.
Victoria’s hobbies are currently on the backburner as she has little ones who keep her very busy! Everything her family does, when she’s not at work is centred around her children and she says, “I’m just really enjoying doing stuff with them and seeing them grow”.
Victoria’s Q&A
What’s your greatest personal achievement?
Running the Silverstone 10k race was such an achievement for me. I joined a running club at work and I went from having never ran to being able to run 10k, without stopping, and taking part in a serious running event, plus I’m a bit of an F1 fan!
What’s the best bit of advice you’ve ever been given?
“Failing to prepare is preparing to fail”…one of my CIPD lecturers taught that to us.
What is your favourite film and why?
It’s a really old film and is really dated, but the ‘Money Pit’ with Tom Hanks always makes me laugh.
What do you wish other people knew about HR Solutions?
HR Solutions offer the opportunity for you to access free webinars on various HR topics. Our HR webinars offer practical advice as well as employment law updates and so are a really useful tool for any organisation.
Karen Falconer
HR Knowledge ManagerKaren was promoted to HR Knowledge Manager in November 2017, having been promoted once before from HR Advisor to Senior HR Advisor, Team Leader earlier that same year.
Juliet Coates
Client Services ManagerJuliet joined HR Solutions in September 2016 as HR Advisor to predominately support our clients using our ever-growing HR Advice Line service. She has since been promoted to Senior HR Advisor, HR Consultant and Client Services Manager.
Sue Watson
Head of Client ServicesSue Watson has gained extensive HR experience over the course of her career with HR management positions across a range of industries.
Louise Balloch
HR ConsultantLouise supports HR Solutions’ clients via the HR Advice Line; her experience includes an array of topics including flexible working, probation, conduct, performance management, parental leave and absence management.
Chris Thomson
HR AdvisorChris achieved a BA in Business Studies (Hons) (2:1) from Nottingham Trent University and a CIPD Level 5 Diploma in HR Management. His HR experience covers working within highways, utilities, construction and infrastructure sectors.
Bhavika Chauhan
HR AdvisorBhavika has over 18 years HR experience gained with leading UK organisations where she designed and implemented reward schemes and employee engagement programs.
Sarah Dunnell
HR AdvisorSarah’s HR Advisor experience within the Travel & Tourism sector saw her specialise in business change management whether it was selling a brand, closing an office, making redundancies or reorganising the workforce.
