NAME: Sharon Hicken COMPANY/REGION: McCarthy and Stone JOB TITLE: Group Training Manager DEPARTMENT: Human Resources WHAT DOES YOUR DEPARTMENT DO? The department provides a full HR advisory service, including training, payroll and benefits. WHAT DO YOU DO ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS? Evaluate training needs within the whole group (excluding IT) and provide in house events to cover these. Provide advice and source external events for individuals. Provide support/sponsorship for individuals who continue with their Professional studies. I also design/deliver some of our in house events myself. I manage a training budget for the group. WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT WHAT YOU DO? The variety of the role. I can be delivering an event one day face to face in one of our Regional offices and the next day talking one to one with a member of staff who wishes to commence Professional Studies. Training is always a rewarding role. WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS CAREER? I had been a Training Consultant with two other companies previously after having spent many years in Management. Training is a constantly changing environment and no two days are the same, which makes this career interesting and an area of constant development. I enjoy working face to face with people as well as having the opportunity to be creative and making learning fun. IS THERE ANY PARTICULAR ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE A GRADUATE OR TRAINEE LOOKING FOR A JOB IN YOUR WORK AREA? People buy people, not the theory they have studied. Personality and confidence are key as the knowledge can be learnt.
