What’s your job here at Itad?
Hi! I am the Learning and Development Lead at Itad. My role is fairly new to the company, I started in September 2019 and am enjoying every minute!
What does that involve?
I sit within the HR team and support the wider business with their learning. I get involved in all aspects of the learning cycle by working with every area of the business to ensure that they have access to the training and support their teams need. Each team has a strengths framework which is where we draw our core L&D and then our annual personal reviews provide a platform for everyone to think through their individual L&D needs.
How did you get into the field?
When I was studying my music degree, my lecturers would tell me I should be a teacher. I would always be first to volunteer to get involved in activities and found presenting to groups a fun and breezy task. When I joined my first role out of university at Southern Water, I quickly found myself in a ‘technical trainer position’ and that’s where my career in L&D began.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
The incredible amount of autonomy I have over my role. I am a creative and positive person, who is obsessed with the development of others. L&D is the fun, fluffy, abstract side to ‘work’, if you don’t love L&D then you are doing it wrong!
What new innovations or methods have you noticed in your sector?
‘Learning in the flow of work’ is a phrase I have been hearing a lot, especially when I visited the learning technologies conference a few weeks ago. Aside from how technology has boosted our ability to deliver work more efficiently, it’s really important to acknowledge that one-off training courses don’t necessarily have time to embed their content into our working day. If we are learning alongside our tasks, these new skills are more likely to stick around.
Recent highlight?
A recent L&D highlight for me was the release of the L&D Library! Now our teams have full sight of the courses available to them. This will guide the frequency of course roll out and ensure that all our teams have the same opportunities to develop and gain new skills.
Most interesting question you have been asked recently?
Today I was asked by our culture platform partner ‘how can Itad keep long term team members engaged and challenged through learning?’ I believe it’s about keeping your finger on the pulse and ensuring that teams have the channels available to them to express their L&D wants and needs. Line managers also have a job to do here – they need to be keeping the conversation open with their team members and taking a proactive approach to encouraging the use of learning interventions.
Favourite place you have visited as part of your job?
‘Platf9rm’! It’s a co-working space in Brighton and Hove which Itad has a membership for. It’s a chilled and funky place that takes you away from your usual routine and gives me space to pop my creative hat on. Also, ‘Canham & Sons’ is around the corner and they do THE BEST sandwiches.
