"Learning should be engaging and stimulating and I’m keen to inject that in the virtual content I create, to support the learning in centre and on the job."
What led you to work for PETA?
I’ve always loved making something out of nothing happen. Every idea can become something tangible if you’re brave enough to go for it! It’s important that you don’t lose sight of connecting your skillset dots. Every opportunity you go for, shapes your future. Every single one. I studied Creative Event Management at University, went on to gain a PGCE through Teaching in Secondary School, learnt the ropes in Corporate Marketing as well as worked long-term in the Disability Arts world as an Access Support. It’s all lead to this role and I’ll never underestimate the number of transferable skills I’ve gained throughout my career journey. I joined PETA because their values match mine: Development, Advancing and going after your Goals.
What is your role at PETA and what drives you to what you do?
I’m the Digital Content Creator here at PETA! It’s a new, super exciting role that is driving PETA further into a digital space. Learning should be engaging and stimulating and I’m keen to inject that in the virtual content I create for you, to support your learning in centre and on the job. Embarking on an Apprenticeship or taking on an Apprentice is a really exciting time; you should feel supported in your professional development and your learning journey - I’m part of a great team who can make that happen. Accessing relevant, key content that you can drop in and out of when you need it, is vital to success and will keep you ahead of the game both as a professional and as a business.
What knowledge or experience do you draw upon for your role?
My role is two-fold! I get to bring creative ideas to the table, as well as draw on pedagogies in teaching to apply to virtual courses. I love adding to my digital toolbox! I use a lot of different programmes ranging from Adobe InDesign and Illustrator to Course Authoring tools. AI is a recent addition to the toolbox and I’m excited to see how it can inform and shape my craft. Learning wouldn’t exist without the wealth of knowledge from the Experts here at PETA; I love collaborating with my team to bring this knowledge to life, digitally!
How do you approach your role on a day-to-day basis? What skills are required.
Finding out what works and what doesn’t from our learners helps shape the content within our business, and it’s a key driver for me. I listen in order to learn and am very open to new ideas! The user experience is at the forefront of my work. We’re living in an era of information-on-demand. We need to be able to tap into need-to-know, insightful information – fast. Learner needs are always changing and it’s about having the skills to respond to this which is going to shape future apprenticeships. I’m passionate about taking PETA to the next level in the digital space – developing our learning ecosystem and delivering digital content at fingertips in order to maintain our position as key leaders in the Education and Training Industry.
What are you passionate about outside of work?
You’ll probably catch me in the theatre watching a new musical with my husband, playing bingo with my Mum, or cheering from the side-lines at my stepsons’ football matches! When I get spare time to myself then reading, crocheting or journalling are some of my favourite pass-times, even better with a Disney film or Harry Potter in the background! I’m a creative person at heart so anything that keeps my mind in this space is a definite yes from me!
What are your personal values, and what is important to you?
I really value good people. People who work hard, play harder, but still make time for others. I love hearing about people’s journeys and how they’ve got to where they are today. We all face challenges in life but resilience, determination and a fire in your belly to keep going, are key qualities I value in people.
I’m really fortunate to be a girl born in the 90s, having seen the development from the days of dial up AOL, Sony Walkmans and Nokia 3410’s merging into incredible high technology solutions! I’ve witnessed the death of the cassette tape, the VHS making way for the DVD, and now, thanks to Netflix, not even Blu-ray’s sell for more than 50p at car-boot sales! As much as I love how brilliant technology has transformed our lives (and don’t get me wrong, I’d be lost without my Macbook now!), it’s really important to me that we keep social interaction alive, young people’s minds engaged, filters at bay and the real person closer in arm’s length than your phone