Throughout my career I’ve found that learning is a continuous process and I have been extremely fortunate to work with a lot of great people who I have listened and learnt from.
What is your role and what does a normal day look like for you?
As Group Skills Development Officer, I work within the HR team looking after skills development across the group. This involves implementing the group learning and development strategy by designing and delivering a range of intervention programmes.
In my role no two days are ever the same, but currently I’m working on the implementation of a Learning Management System (LMS) for the group. You will usually find me designing, delivering or co-ordinating different technical training sessions helping to develop our people in line with both their and the business needs.
What do you enjoy most about your role and Dale Farm?
Growing up on the family farm in Fermanagh I caught the dairy bug early and following my college placement I took a real interest in the processing side of the industry. Alongside a passion for learning, I found that a role in training within the dairy industry was a great fit. I really enjoy the people side of my role, helping others to learn new skills and knowledge and passing that on.
Dale Farm is a great place to work, filled with equally passionate people who want to learn and grow to benefit themselves and the business. The culture and environment has a very “can do” attitude which is very refreshing to see.
How did you get to where you are today?
I spent almost 10 years working within a variety of roles in the dairy processing industry. In 2007 I joined the CAFRE, Loughry Campus where I worked on a range of dairy projects and training projects for the sector, taking me all over Europe. In 2016, I won the “Food Hero of the Year” award for my contribution to the local dairy sector, which was a great achievement and helped lead me to Dale Farm in 2022.
Throughout my career I’ve found that learning is a continuous process and I have been extremely fortunate to work with a lot of great people who I have listened and learnt from. Benjamin Franklin once said, "Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn." I’ve followed this throughout my career and use it to shape my current role and support my colleagues through their training programmes.