Paul Dowie talks exclusively to HRZone about how he made it to the top of the HR tree at news broadcaster, ITN and how scooping the contract to provide the London news for ITV involved the challenge of TUPE transfers.
1. What is your current job title? Briefly describe your current role.
I am HR Director for Independent Television News (ITN) responsible for all aspects of the HR strategy and operation within the business.
2. What challenges do you come across?
One of the biggest challenges here is communicating with staff that work a variety of different shift patterns covering a 24 hour operation period located around the UK and the world.
3. What activities do you spend most of your time on?
This role is quite varied and the culture means we don’t get too bogged down in meetings or long decision making processes which is very refreshing. The bulk of my time is spent working on new projects and advising the senior management team.
4. Describe your initial training within the profession
I did a Business Studies degree and specialised in the HR elements in my final year. This was great as it gave me a good grounding in all aspects of business not just HR. After graduating I completed my CIPD course.
5. What positions have you held?
I started as a Personnel Manager in Training at Sainsbury’s based in a Store with another Personnel Manager. This was a great first job as I was able to get real hands on experience in a very varied and challenging environment. After my training I was given my own Store for six months which was very daunting, at the age of 23 I was responsible for over 300 staff in a store taking £750,000 a week. It was a real sink or swim time.
I then moved around to a couple of other Stores before moving to Sainsburys head office as Resource Planning Manager. This role involved recruitment design and resource planning for the retail division of the company.
I left Sainsburys to take up the role of HR Officer and ITN before being promoted to HR Manager in 2002. I was subsequently made HR Director a year later.
6. Is there a significant event you can tell us about which had an impact on your career?
Looking back I think there have been quite a few but the most significant was being offered the HR Managers role at ITN as it was the first time I really was in sole charge of the HR function for a business.
7. What has been your greatest achievement?
Two or three spring to mind but if I had to pick one I would say the greatest was in 2003/2004 when ITN were awarded the contract to provide the London News for ITV.
The project involved a large TUPE and lots of changes for both ITN and the staff who transferred. We also had a pretty tight timeframe in which to deliver the project.
8. What is your biggest career mistake?
I think the mistake I regret the most was not promoting someone I worked with at Sainsburys when I had the chance. I am not sure it affected my career but it was certainly not the right decision and a missed opportunity.
9. Which of your colleagues played the biggest role in you getting where you are today?
Again there have been a few but my old head of HR at ITN was instrumental in getting me the role I have now. I learnt a great deal from him and he was also prepared to make a case for me being given his job when he left – I owe him a great deal.
10. What influences do you think have had the greatest impact on the HR sector in recent years?
I think the whole outsourcing debate has had a big impact, even if people haven’t done any I suspect most people have looked at it and are aware of what options they have.
On a more strategic level the drive to be business partners is also huge and I think most people in HR now accept that you have be working alongside the business if you want to make an impact.
11. What advice would you give to someone thinking of entering the profession?
Get some general work experience first and understand what makes people tick at work. Do your CIPD as it gives you a good grounding in everything HR. Finally try and find a mentor who has some good experience and you can bounce things off whenever you need to.
12. What are your plans for the future?
There are lots of challenges ahead for ITN and I hope to be playing a part in dealing with those.
Previous career profiles can be seen on the How Did I Get Here? page.
