"Wearing several hats keeps me on my toes, and I spend every second of my day finding new and creative ideas to engage our learners."
What led you to work for PETA?
I have had several different careers in my professional life. At 30, I sought to change my career and undertook an apprenticeship. It was during this time that I finally found the passion that had been missing in my professional life. Interestingly, it was the apprenticeship itself that ignited that fire in my belly, not the work. I realized that I had found something that would make my work enjoyable, and I believe everyone should enjoy what they do!
When the role of Business and Functional Skills Trainer at PETA came up, I knew it was the job for me. Academically, I had always excelled in Maths and English and chose to continue studying these subjects in college. With my degree in Business Administration, along with my experience working in different organisations and seeing 'Business in Action,' I felt confident that I could take the curriculum and deliver a fun yet challenging programme.
What is your role at PETA and what drives you to what you do?
I am the Business and Functional Skills Trainer here at PETA. I look after the in-centre training for our business administration students who are working towards achieving their Level 3 apprenticeship, and I deliver Maths and English to all our apprentices. I love the diversity in the role; wearing several hats keeps me on my toes, and I spend every second of my day finding new and creative ideas to engage our learners.
What knowledge and experience do you draw upon for your role?
For my Business Administration Trainer role, I hold a degree in Business Administration. More importantly, I have been fortunate enough to work in a variety of industries, which has allowed me to see 'business in action,' as I term it. From being a soldier on the ground to a senior management position, I have adopted different roles and can apply real-life experiences to the knowledge element of the training. This approach brings the material to life in a way that helps our learners connect the dots.
For our Functional Skills Trainer role, I have A-Level certificates in Maths, Further Maths, and English. While I love the educational side of things, I draw more on my experience as a mother and stepmother to children who have never found academic environments at school to be the best way to learn. I would spend evenings supporting them with homework, trying to find visual strategies to embed understanding and generate self-belief. I still remember, to this day, running around with limes in my hand to explain how the Earth orbits the Sun and how the Moon orbits the Earth!
How do you approach your role on a day-to-day basis? What skills are required?
My day-to-day activities vary depending on the day! I teach Functional Skills on Mondays and Business Administration on Wednesdays, so those are classroom days for me, surrounded by our wonderful learners. The spare time in between could be spent collaborating with L&D coaches on strategies for students, exploring new curriculum or in-centre training ideas to make our learning more immersive and engaging. It may also involve developing training ideas for our commercial delegates or researching further ways to blend our face-to-face learning with digital methods to modernise our course offerings.
What is your teaching style?
My teaching style is a mix of facilitator, lecture-based, and collaborative methods. With a set curriculum to cover in just 10 days, structure is crucial. However, I also emphasize building relationships and encouraging learners to see themselves as a community and support network. By adopting a collaborative approach to idea generation and concept development, I help students engage, think independently, and make meaningful connections to their workplace, which enhances their work.
What are you passionate about outside of work?
I lead a very busy family life, with my passion centred around my family. While I don't have specific "hobbies," I am deeply committed to creating a wealth of memories for my daughters. We often book and attend various events, especially those tied to seasonal festivities. Being very outdoorsy, I make a strong effort to get the whole family involved in fun, messy adventures.
What are your personal values, and what is important to you?
I have a fundamental belief in people and trust that no one intentionally sets out to have a bad day. I am naturally drawn to those who share this belief and prioritise mutual respect and honesty.