We're really excited to introduce Sarah Loates to the DPG Community team. Sarah will be sharing, curating and collaborating as our new HR Zone Facilitator.
We caught up with Sarah to find out a little bit more about what she is going to be doing in the HR Zone.
Great to have you onboard Sarah, tell us a bit about yourself?
I live in Derby, with my partner Kev and cat Maslow. (Yes that Maslow). And I run my own HR Consultancy business with clients across the East Midlands.
How have you gained your HR experience – would you call yourself a specialist or a generalist?
A generalist for sure. I have worked in HR for over 20 years covering recruitment, training, employee relations, talent etc. I worked at PKF Cooper Parry as an HR Consultant and latterly for EON UK where I got lots of union experience. For the past 4 years I have run my own business providing an HR service for SMEs.
Have you got an areas of particular interest that really gets your passions going?
Well all things employment law, I find the constant toing and froing of case law fascinating. My real passion is equality and diversity but don't get me started on that! I was also the talent management lead for my business when I worked at EON so I really enjoy that aspect too
You’re also facilitating a number of HR programmes for DPG is that right?
Yes and I travel all over the UK and get to meet lots of great learners, I am due to commence my next programme in Birmingham which is a bit closer to home and Bristol later this year.
How does DPG’s approach differ to other training providers?
Well I have also taught CIPD programmes for a local college where the attendance was weekly. The biggest difference is the on-line collaboration with the participants and the facilitators and I find that DPG has a much more sophisticated blended learning approach. They really care about creating spaces that support discovery and learning, curiosity is something that drives learning and there is so much great content out there to find and share. The workshops also mean that students can be more focussed on practical activities and the e-learning means lots of support and development in between the face to face time. So it's a win-win.
What will you be doing as the DPG Community HR Zone facilitator?
Well I hope to encourage others to share their questions, experiences and learning. Also to support those who are not confident yet in using online communities. Up until joining DPG I would have described myself as a Luddite (I am still not on Facebook). But since joining I have found the more I post online the more confident I get, and that people don't think you are posting nonsense but are genuinely interested in what you have to share. I'm keen to encourage others to share their experiences and knowledge to help others and to create a real sense of community and create a thriving collaborative space.
Watch out for articles, blogs and resources on topical issues and latest thinking. I'll post things that I hope are relevant so please get involved and let me now your thoughts if things are valuable for you.
Have you got any claims to fame you can share with Community Members
Oh dear, not that I would like to put in writing you would have to ask me in person on that one ;-)
Thank you Sarah great to catch and welcome to the team, looking forward to your posts and getting involved.
Mike & Deb
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