Trevor Lakin, Managing Director at the Institute of Payroll and Pensions Management, is this week’s star of HR Zone’s regular ‘How Did I Get Here?’ feature. Trevor reflects on the time when he was told to get ‘off his fat arse’ and start making an impact! Scroll down to find out more.
All the previous career profiles can also be seen in the special How Did I Get Here?page.
What initial training did you receive within the profession
I attended an Open University “Effective Manager” Distance Learning course.
What did you do before this job?
Prior to getting this job I held a number of positions including Warehouse Hand, Computer Programmer/Analyst, Computer Lecturer, Software Manager and Director.
Is there a significant event you can tell us about which had an impact on your career?
In May 1984 there was a lunch at the Bull Hotel, Peterborough when the then Payroll Manager of the CSS (Civil Airline Authority) told me to “get off my fat arse, stop freeloading all these lunches, and create a professional payroll organisation.”
What has been your greatest achievement?
Creating and launching The Institute of Payroll and Pensions Management in 1985. It used to be a hobby but now it is a full time job for myself and 41 colleagues plus over 70 part-time tutors who work on our Payroll and Pensions qualifications.
Which of your colleagues played the biggest role in you getting where you are today?
Ted Abraham. He was a “brewed up” tank commander who fought for what he thought was right (in business and war. He spent over six months persuading my then manager that he wanted me to join the IT Department – 1967.
What advice would you give to someone thinking of entering the profession?
ENJOY IT, sort the bull from what is real and never stop learning. Make any decisions today then correct any mistakes tomorrow, don’t procrastinate.
If you’re willing to share your experiences of working in HR to date with other members, we’d like to hear from you – e-mail us to receive a copy of this questionnaire.
Previous How Did I Get Here? features:
Susan Stevens, Toshiba Information Systems
Irene Burwin, HMG Paint
Trevor Lakin, IPPM
Alison Clarke, Quantica
Laurence Collins, Ceridian HR Consulting
Paul Kearns, PWL
Fiona Knight, KPMG
Adrian Glynn, Wilkins Kennedy
Joanne Darling, Cooper Parry
Sue Matthews, Coventry City Council
Nichola Nair, European HR Strategic Programmes Manager for Xerox
Alison Lewis, Corporate Learning & Development Manager, Oxfam
Jessica Diggins, HR Manager, Chartered Management Institute
Linda Klassen-Brown, Group HR Manager, The Logic Group
Keith Hanlon, HR Manager, Quantum Business Media
Andrew Mayo, frequent speaker and writer on HR issues
Jim Brooks, HR Manager for ServiRail Ltd
Jean-Bertrand de Lartigue, Chairman of HR2all
Karen Caddick, Head of HR, Channel Five
Madeleine Tate
Keith Luxon, HR Policy and Reward Director, The Laurel Pub Company
Jeremy Thorn, Chairman and Director of QED Consulting
Roger Pattison, HR – Training & Management Development Consultant
Verity McVarish, HR Manager for Sift Media
Rus Slater
David Kelly, Head of Development and Training for Aventis
Jenny Kevan, UK HR Manager for Abbott Laboratories
William Martin, HR Manager, Telewest Broadband
Craig Truter, HR Manager, The Body Shop
Martin Stockton, HR Transformation Leader, Towers Perrin
Nick Heap, Consultant, New Directions
Crispin Garden-Webster, HR Specialist, Asian Development Bank
Sandra Walsh, HR Delivers
Carole Leslie, Director, IT Learning Ltd
Shaun Dunphy, Project and Process Manager, EMEA HR Service Centre for MCI
Debra Artlett, HR Officer, NGJ
Dianne Miles, HR Manager, Rollalong Ltd
Jacqui Mann, HR Manager, Integra NeuroSciences
Isabella Montgomery, Human Resources Officer at The new Housing Association
Iain Young, Head of HR for Cofathec Heatsave
Have you got any useful insights or cautionary tales regarding your career? If you would like to contribute to the ‘How Did I Get Here’ feature please email our employment correspondent: Dawn-Marie Dart
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