“I most enjoy the variety of things I get involved in; one day I’ll be talking at the induction for new starters and another day I’ll be building cars with primary school children to enthuse them about science and engineering.”
Noor started at DE&S part-time while at university and is now a Diversity, Inclusion and Outreach advisor for our HR function.
Why did you choose to pursue a career in DE&S?
When I researched the organisation, I could relate to its values; a place that believes in innovation and investing in its people. DE&S also offers a range of flexible working patterns and when I first joined I was still at university, so I was offered the option to work part time hours until I graduated and was moved to a full-time contract after my degree completion. I was deployed to a different role after 5 months to meet business and my development needs and this goes on to prove that DE&S is committed to developing its people regardless of their grade or how long they have served the organisation.
What are you looking forward to in your role over the next 12 months?
In the coming months the team at Diversity, Inclusion and Outreach (part of the HR function) are rolling out lots of initiatives to truly embed a culture of inclusion at DE&S. I will be involved in project managing the ‘Outreach’ plan which will include targeted recruitment and delivering the flight path to meet our diversity and inclusion targets for the year.
What does your role entail?
My role involves supporting Diversity and Inclusion training initiatives and as an outreach advisor I deliver key recruitment events across the South West region to recruit, retain and develop high calibre employees who can help achieve DE&S targets. I have also helped deliver 13 hours of training at no extra cost to the function by using in house expertise to up-skill the HR workforce.
What are the opportunities to develop and progress within your function?
Human Resources at DE&S is a very exciting function to work for as it’s at the heart of transformation in the organisation. With so many changes taking place there is a great opportunity to learn and inspire what the future will look like. The HR function provides opportunities to move around roles whether it’s a business facing team or a Centre of Expertise, you can learn skills like problem solving, decision-making, communication and people management. It is these skills which makes HR professionals’ excellent managers.
What do you most enjoy about your job?
You are constantly pursuing greater goals, there is always a challenge waiting for you. I most enjoy the variety of things I get involved in; one day I’ll be talking at the induction for new starters and another day I’ll be building cars with primary school children to enthuse them about science and engineering. It’s a very rewarding role as you get to solve people’s problems and make them feel motivated and productive by helping them out.
What’s your ambition?
In 5 years’ time, I want to be a key HR professional at DE&S, working and implementing policies to make DE&S not only an attractive employer, but also to develop people to help them achieve their best. I would also like to play a key role in developing and delivering training programmes to help DE&S become a more inclusive employer and an industry leader.
What’s the greatest achievement (in your role) to date?
Delivery of the Big Bang event at the NEC Birmingham which is a national event with a footfall of 80,000 students with a focus on STEM subjects. The event is run over four days but it takes three to four months of project management to deliver. The event is attended by schools, parents, teachers as well as professionals from within the industry so it’s a high profile event and helped me develop valuable skills that I use in my day to day job now.
Would you recommend DE&S to others as a great place to work?
Absolutely! I have already recommended it to a couple of friends. DE&S is a great employer and is committed to investing in its people to help them achieve their potential. As an inclusive employer, DE&S also offers flexible working conditions and has several employee networks that employees can join. There is a real sense of community at DE&S as we are all working towards the same goal of equipping and supporting the armed forces.
How do you build a successful career at DE&S ?
I believe in order to build a successful career at DE&S, you have to be committed and focused. It is also important to throw yourself into the deep-end every now and then to get out of your comfort zone. It is often in these scenarios that you discover your maximum scope of learning and development. Challenge yourself and continuously look to improve work processes to be more productive is key in my experience.
