Jayne Mee, HR Director of Spirit Group, the UK’s leading independent managed pub operator with 2,000 pubs nationwide and a team of 40,000 reveals her secrets of success in this latest How Did I Get Here?
1. What is your current job title? Briefly describe your current role.
I am HR Director for the Spirit Group Ltd. My role ‘owns’ the company wide People Strategy. Therefore it is my responsibility to lead my team in the various elements that contribute to this. For instance we have some major challenges around People & Succession Planning, Resourcing and Engagement of our people, not to mention Reward & Recognition, Training and Development and Performance Management too.
2. What challenges do you come across?
There are numerous challenges, particularly in relation to change and development. Helping people to see how to do things differently and better demands the skills to challenge, influence and communicate effectively, and sometimes we make assumptions that everyone is comfortable with this, and of course this isn’t always the case. HR must work in partnership to support managers to enable them to facilitate change, in turn helping others.
3. What activities do you spend most of your time on?
I spend about 40% of my time on Board responsibilities attending various meetings and making a strategic contribution to the running of the business. The rest of my time is spent in two ways. Firstly leading my own team to deliver our People Strategy and secondly in supporting my Board colleagues in achieving their senior people related challenges.
4. Describe your initial training within the profession
I gained a Certificate and then Diploma in Management before completing my IPD qualification (IPM as it was in those days!). I also did an MSc in Human Resource Development. These have provided me with a fantastic grounding. That said there is nothing like experience in various roles to build confidence and expertise.
5. What positions have you held?
Throughout my career I have held a number of different positions from Training and Development Manager at Boots to running my own consultancy specialising in HR Strategy and Development, to Director of Organisation Development and HR Director roles.
6. Is there a significant event you can tell us about which had an impact on your career?
I never intended to pursue a career in HR when I started out. I was a dispenser with Boots when they created the position of Training & Development Manager and suggested that I apply for the job. I did and got the job! The rest is history!
7. What has been your greatest achievement?
Creating the Retail Career Pathway at Spirit, which I did with my team in my previous role of Director of Organisation Development. We were recognised by National Training Awards and Personnel Today which was a great achievement.
8. What is your biggest career mistake?
Like anyone I have made mistakes along the way but there’s nothing I can point to as being a major career mistake. I have always tried to learn from anything that’s gone wrong and see it as an opportunity.
9. Which of your colleagues played the biggest role in you getting where you are today?
It would have to be our Chief Executive who was confident I could do the job.
10. What influences do you think have had the greatest impact on the HR sector in recent years?
Much of the employment legislation that has been passed in the last five years or so has impacted on the profession. Lifestyles are also changing, people want different things from their work, and also want to balance this with their outside interests. This provides a challenge to employers at a time when business has had to become lean while at the same time wanting fantastic commitment from staff.
11. What advice would you give to someone thinking of entering the profession?
Do it! There can’t be anything more fascinating than working in a professional context with people. Be prepared to listen, learn and work very hard to provide the influence that is necessary to see people on top of the business agenda.
12. What are your plans for the future?
To do a fantastic job as HR Director for Spirit!
Previous career profiles can be seen on the How Did I Get Here? page.
