Looking forward, the biggest changes to our organisation
in the post Covid era will be .... encouraging staff to
return to the workplace and helping them feel confident to do so.
It's not just anxiety about coronavirus that holds people back but
the realisation that they need to re-engineer their work-life
balance all over again. No-one is in a rush to have longer days
because of the commute or spend more on childcare. Sensible
employers need to recognise this and work with employees to get the
balance right.
On the future vision for our organisation in Glasgow
.... FD People are well established in the city and we are
part of the wider French Duncan family which is a name many of your
readers will recognise. But we are keen to grow FD People over the
next few years and expand our client base within Scotland and the
UK as a whole. Glasgow provides a good central location for us with
access to transport links and networks.
The three best things about working in Glasgow are
.... Access to services, Transport links and
Socialising.
My favourite part of Glasgow is ....
Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum - many happy hours spent there
browsing the artefacts and paintings.
The most satisfying thing about my job is ....
being able to support clients and demystify health and
safety. Health and safety does get a bad reputation and it's wholly
unfair - our job is to keep people safe and healthy - my mission is
to debunk the bad press and promote the benefits.
The biggest challenge I have faced in my career to date
was when .... moving from the public sector to the private
sector was a big change - I'd been closeted in the public sector
with all the perks and final salary pension for 27 years before
taking the leap into the "real" world. Eleven years on I wish I'd
done it sooner, as the opportunities to learn and grow and the
speed with which change can happen means there is never a dull
moment.
The businessperson I most admire is .... every
client who has set up and runs their own business. They deserve my
admiration - it's not easy and they put their heart and soul into
it every day to make it successful - their stories and their
commitment inspire me
Outside of work, I am passionate about .... (in
no particular order) - relaxing, enjoying time with my husband and
family; cuddles with my golden retriever who is the most adorable
dog ever and I like to be creative so I like to knit and sew and
have written a book and would love to write more (maybe when I
retire).
My approach to achieving work life balance is
.... recognise when I'm tired and making myself take a
break - whether it's half an hour with a coffee staring into space
or a long weekend every now and then. It's too easy to just keep on
working and pushing yourself to do more - we all need a time out
(and a cuddle with the most adorable dog ever) to help to refocus
our mind and reinvigorate our soul.
First ever job? Sales assistant in a shoe
shop
Favourite boxset? Right now it's Private
Practice (a Grey's Anatomy spin-off)
Favourite band? Too many to pick one
Sunshine or snow? Sunshine - EVERY TIME!!
And, finally, what three words best sum you up?
Calm, friendly, organised
FD People is now accredited by the Institute of
Occupational Health and Safety to deliver the market leading
Managing Safety course. The next course starts on 12th May 2022.
More details
here