Is This Room Free?
Welcome to Is This Room Free? In this podcast I will be talking to HR professionals and listening to the stories of their careers. I will be finding out about the journeys they have taken and what they learnt along the way. The purpose is to help others in the profession identify and understand the various paths available and take inspiration from my guest speakers. Whether you are someone who is looking to get that first step on the HR career ladder or an aspiring HR Director, I hope you get value from these conversations.
Episodes
107 episodes
Jess Gray - Outsourced HR Advisor (dealing with everything HR has to throw at you)
My guest on this episode is Jess Gray who has recently joined a solicitors as part of their outsourced HR team. However, we cover off so many interesting aspects and situations within this episode. Jess found her way into HR and Tra...
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Season 1
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Episode 23
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1:13:44
Lisa LLoyd & Gemma Ellison (Leadership Labs - a unique approach to helping leaders grow)
We have a first for the podcast - it's the very first time that I've had two guests feature on one episode.I'm joined by Gemma Ellison and Lisa LLoyd who are both returning guests from this series. Since my recording with G...
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Season 4
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Episode 22
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1:00:30
Jane Ferre - Talent Management Strategist (helping frustrated companies revolutionise their talent management agenda quickly and easily)
My guest this episode is Jane Ferre who is an expert in all things Talent Management.Jane is such a fun and engaging individual who is prolific on LinkedIn so connect with her on there if you aren't already.Like many she didn't ...
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Season 4
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Episode 21
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1:08:07
Lisa LLoyd - from Primary School Teacher to workplace culture Consultant
My guest this episode is Lisa LLoyd who could be considered an unconventional guest for me to have on. Whilst Lisa hasn't worked in HR per se, the work she does feeds into the HR ecosystem. In the spirit of bring as broad a variety...
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Season 4
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Episode 20
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52:05
Julie Spicher - HR Admin to Head of People & Culture in 8 years
I'm joined in this episode by Julie Spicher who is Head of People & Culture for energy company Leep Utilities in Manchester.I've know Julie about 8 years when she was a HR Administrator and have watched her career flourish at quite ...
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Season 4
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Episode 19
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1:04:42
Steven Ingram - Tackling neurodiversity but in a way to make it a better situation for everyone
My guest for this episode is Steven Ingram who worked for the bulk of his HR career doing consultancy before launching his own business, Neurodiversity Together, in the summer of 2023.Steven has ADHD, autism, and a stammer. What I absol...
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Season 4
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Episode 18
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1:09:44
Simon Schumann-Davies - the most experienced and complete HR person I've EVER interviewed!
I've often referenced the HR Bingo sheet through various podcast episodes. That's the list of everything you can do in the HR spectrum and ticking off as many as you can.Well I think this episodes guest is the first person I've ever met...
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Season 4
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Episode 17
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1:11:18
Annette Andrews - One of the UK's top 50 most influential HR practitioners
This is a landmark episode as it's our 100th!!Therefore a landmark episode requires a guest of equal stature and I'm delighted to be joined by Annette Andrews.Annette has an incredibly fascinating career story to share. From gro...
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Season 4
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Episode 16
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1:09:05
Beth Orford - Head of People (Learning to find what roles work best for you and have we evolved from People functions to Capability ones?)
Joining me on this episode is Beth Orford who is the Head of People for a FinTech business called Everything Financial.Beth is an incredible guest as she changes the perspective on how we should look at not only our careers but HR as a ...
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Season 4
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Episode 15
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1:04:15
Caroline Oxley - Head of People & Culture (how HR varies in different sizes of business and under different ownership types.... and the nuances of doing TUPE transfers)
Joining me on this epsiode is Caroline Oxley who works as Head of People & Culture for a property investment company and is based in Greater Manchester.In her early HR career, Caroline worked in Facilities Management. What I found in...
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Season 4
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Episode 14
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1:16:25
Hayley Duckworth - Head of People (The lack of part-time roles and getting through the HR Bingo Card)
I'm delighted to be joined by Hayley Duckworth on this latest episode of the podcast. Hayley is someone I've known in a loose sense for a long time and have watched her career flourish. Like many, she began in recruitment but didn'...
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Season 4
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Episode 13
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1:26:02
Jo Mountney - HR Director (from L&D to HR leader, and putting yourself outside your comfort zone to grow)
This is the final episode of 2023 and I'm joined by Jo Mountney, who has spent the entirety of her career so far within hospitality and tourism, working for the largest theme park in the UK for 20 years.Jo initially began in operations ...
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Season 4
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Episode 12
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1:10:50
Jane Ayrton - Head of L&D (how to build amazing teams, boost your confidence, and using Insights Discovery Profiling)
The guest this episode is Jane Ayrton who has been working in the L&D space for over 30 years.Her career has incorporated being in both self-employed and employed roles. In her most recent role, Jane was Head of L&D in a financia...
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Season 4
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Episode 11
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1:08:38
Daniel Balshaw - HR Transformation Director (incorporating technology to enhance HR teams)
My guest this episode is Daniel Balshaw who has built a HR career combining his two interests - technology and people.Dan was working in his local Sainsbury's store when he was approached by the HR team (personnel back then) to help with...
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Season 4
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Episode 10
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1:08:13
Natalie Ellis - How to position HR credibly and not as the fluffy department, and tailoring your approach to adapt to your customers
My guest this episode is Natalie Ellis who is the founder of Rebox HR, a multi-award winning HR Consultancy business based in Daventry, Northhamptonshire.Natalie has spent over 17 years in the world of HR, working her way through the co...
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Season 4
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Episode 9
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1:08:40
Alex Rose - Group Recruitment & Media Manager (how to improve your talent acquisition and hiring wins by adopting a marketing mindset)
This episode I'm joined by Alex Rose who is Group Recruitment & Media Manager for a cake manufacturer called BBF based in Blackburn.I wanted to invite Alex on as a guest as I helped recruit him into this position and it was an intere...
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Season 4
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Episode 8
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1:09:28
Wendy Macartney - Senior HRBP and Coaching Psychologist (bullying & harrassment, picking your own path with conviction, neurodiversity, progressive workplaces, and even meditation... this one has it all)
Joining me on this episode is Wendy Macartney who is not only a Senior HRBP but also a coaching Psychologist.This is a fabulous conversation as we really go off-script and barely touch upon Wendy's actual career journey. However, what w...
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Season 4
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Episode 7
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1:18:30
Alison Allen - Why menopause awareness is so key in organisations today
My guest for this episode is Alison Allen who, following a successful career in internal HR, set up her own HR Consultancy in March 2023.Alison's real passion through her career has been about developing people, so as well as providing g...
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Season 4
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Episode 6
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1:22:14
Rachel Wilson Rugelsjoen (Part 2) - What steps you need to take to be doing 'real' HR - a career working strategically, having impact, and adding value
How do you get to the top of your game? What should you be doing, and more importantly not doing, to be a HR professional who is taken seriously and has a track record of success and impact?Well this is the episode that uncovers all tha...
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Season 4
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Episode 5
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58:49
Gemma Ellison - from solicitor to culture & leadership expert (and dealing with all of lifes knocks along the way)
My guest for this episode is Gemma Ellison who currently works as a Senior Talent & Leadership Manager at Macmillan Cancer Support.However, Gemma didn't start her career within HR. She had studied Law at university and went on to be...
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Season 4
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Episode 4
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1:15:08
Nicola Coull - from Head of HR to Managing Director (and why doesn't it happen more frequently?)
I'm so excited to share this episode as my guest is Nicola Coull who is a Managing Director. What is unique is that Nicola made that move from a HR background, which it seems very rarely occurs. Hence, I asked Nicola if she'd join me as a guest...
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Season 4
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Episode 3
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1:14:41
Dan Wilbeck - from Funeral Director to HR Manager, and dealing with dyslexia along the way
This week's guest is Dan Wilbeck who currently works as a HR Manager for a US Tech Tourism business, based in Liverpool (UK) and covering the UK and Europe in a standalone capacity.Both of Dan's parents are dyslexic and is the youngest o...
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Season 4
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Episode 2
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1:05:41
Roisin Williams - The importance of 'Taking a Punt' with job applications, ED&I before it was even called that, and life as a Freelancer
In this episode I'm joined by Roisin Williams who has been in HR for over 30 years and has been a freelancer for the past 3 years. Roisin's career is a fascinating one as one of her first roles was as Equality and Diversity Adviser ...
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Season 4
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Episode 1
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1:09:39
Rebekah Ross - HR Assistant (Changing career from nursing to HR whilst doing a MSc in HRM, getting married, moving house, and having a baby - in just 2 years too!)
My guest on this episode is Rebekah Ross, someone I've known for two years after we connected whilst she was looking to move from a career as a nurse to HR.I'm delighted Rebekah was able to join me as a guest as we had to squeeze the rec...
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Season 3
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Episode 23
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1:01:29
Janet Hadley - Director at Choose Sunrise (raising awareness about alcohol safe workplaces)
We're taking a slightly different route with this episode and my guest is Janet Hadley - the very first non-HR guest!However, the work that Janet does is incredibly relevant to the HR profession and so the justification to have her as a ...
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Season 3
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Episode 22
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1:03:38
