Can you tell us a little about your career and how you got into the sector?
After University, I actually started out as a travel agent. I loved it, the travel, the people, the buzz! After being made redundant, I realised I needed something more sustainable long term. I’d always enjoyed matching people to the perfect holiday, so moving into recruitment felt like a natural next step. Instead of matching people to destinations, I was matching them to careers.
I worked in agency recruitment first and really thrived on the pace of it. I loved the energy, the targets, the relationships. Later, I moved into internal recruitment roles and had the opportunity to work with some incredible brands like DHL, Rolls-Royce and PepsiCo. Recruiting aerospace engineers was a world away from selling holidays but I loved the challenge.
Over time, I discovered what really motivated me: developing people. I moved into learning and development, built an L&D function from scratch in a previous role, and later joined Taylor Wimpey, where I worked with apprentices and graduates stepping into their first roles. Watching people grow in confidence and capability is one of the most rewarding parts of what I do.
Eventually, that journey led me to SIG and I haven’t looked back.
How has your experience at SIG been, and how has the sector evolved?
SIG is a business full of opportunity. When I joined, we were at a different stage in our journey, and we’re still evolving but that’s what makes it interesting.
The construction and distribution world might not always shout the loudest about what it offers, but it’s full of hardworking, supportive people who genuinely want others to succeed. There’s plenty of room to modernise and improve, which means there’s real opportunity to make an impact.
We’re moving forward. It’s not about overnight change; it’s about steady progress and making sure what we introduce actually works for the business and the people in it.
Tell us about your team and what you’re building together.
I’m incredibly proud of my team.
We have Learning & Development Business Partners who work closely with different parts of the business to make sure what we deliver genuinely improves performance, not just ticking boxes. Alongside them, we’ve got a strong digital learning team creating online solutions that make development accessible across the UK.
I also oversee resourcing, which connects the whole people journey; attracting the right talent, developing them, and helping them build long-term careers with us.
Everything we do is focused on impact. If it doesn’t make a difference, we rethink it. That mindset runs right through the team.
How do you approach diversity and inclusion?
For us, it’s about creating an environment where people feel they belong and can do their best work.
We introduced an initiative called Thrive at SIG, which brings together inclusion, wellbeing and development in a way that feels practical and relevant. Rather than focusing on labels, we focus on meaningful actions.
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
Winning the Princess Royal Training Award, and receiving it from Princess Anne — is definitely up there.
We won the award for our internally designed Sales Academy programme. The assessment process is rigorous, and we had to demonstrate genuine business impact, backed by data and employee feedback.
It was a proud moment for the whole team. It recognised not just the programme itself, but the effort, collaboration and belief behind it. And yes, shaking hands with Princess Anne was a pretty surreal experience.
Have you had any mentors or role models along the way?
I’ve been lucky to work with some strong leaders throughout my career.
Rather than one single mentor, I’ve taken something from each person I’ve worked with; different strengths, different approaches. I’ve kept the parts that resonated with me and shaped my own leadership style from there.
Leadership is something you keep refining. I am committed to being open minded and always ready to learn, whether it’s from my team or my own boss.
How would you describe your leadership style?
Collaborative and honest.
I can’t achieve anything without my team, so collaboration is key. I believe in being clear and transparent — people shouldn’t be left guessing. I’m direct, but that comes from a place of respect and clarity.
There are always challenges in learning and resourcing, so resilience is important too. You have to stay focused on the bigger picture and the difference you’re trying to make.
What do you look for when hiring?
Mindset over everything.
Skills can be developed, but attitude, curiosity and drive are harder to teach. I look for people who are willing to challenge constructively, bring new perspectives and take ownership of their work.
People who want to do well and contribute — that’s what makes the difference.
Finally, what advice would you give to people starting out in this sector?
This industry offers more opportunity than people often realise. It’s varied, it’s challenging, and there’s room to build a meaningful career.
My advice would be simple: be clear about what you want and say it. Don’t assume someone will spot your ambition — make it known. If you’re willing to learn, put yourself forward and take responsibility for your development, there are people who will support you.
You don’t need to have everything mapped out. Careers evolve. But if you stay open, stay curious and back yourself, there’s real scope to shape something you’re proud of in this sector.
