Kathryn Jones wanted to become CIPD qualified to boost her HR knowledge and move forward in her career. Her aim paid off when she successfully applied for a new role at a higher level and became more confident in her abilities. Kathryn puts her achievement down to hard work and the personal support she received throughout her studies from one of our expert tutors, Lorraine Bartlett. Here she tells her story.
What is your career experience in HR?
My career in HR began at the logistics company GXO. I had been in customer service, but returning to work after having children I successfully applied for a secondment as an HR Administrator. The company announced a complete restructure just as I started my secondment, so it was a busy time as I was also studying for my level 5 CIPD. I applied for a new job as I was completing my last CIPD module.
What is your current role and how did it come about?
I am a People and Wellness Officer for COPA, a training provider in Wales and England, and have been in the job for five months. The organisation runs a range of employability programmes and work-based learning apprenticeships. I’m the HR, wellbeing and safeguarding person for the business and for learners so it’s a very people focused role.
How did you choose Reed Business School for your CIPD Level 5 Diploma in People Management?
I researched different providers, and it came down to Reed and one other. I liked the look of your website and the brochure describing the course was very professional and easy to understand so I decided to go with Reed Business School.
Which studying route did you choose for your CIPD Level 5 Diploma?
I chose your live online programme with additional live interactive webinars for each module.
The webinars were great and I particularly enjoyed it when modules were delivered over two four-hour webinars as it made the information easier to digest.
How did you work with your tutor Lorraine Bartlett and was the support helpful?
Lorraine is awesome and couldn’t have been more supportive. When we had our initial contact, she asked if I had any particular needs to disclose which might impact on me completing the course. This was helpful as I sometimes struggle with concentration and find starting each new module to be a challenge. Lorraine has a really nice way about her; she doesn’t spoon-feed the information but explains the subject by breaking it down in chunks. She is very knowledgeable and often provides examples of when she was working which was helpful.
What did you think of the resources we provide?
All the course guides were good and the links to the different websites were spot on. The bibliographies pointed you to the right places and rather than asking you to buy loads of books just suggested a couple of options. Overall, the resources were very helpful.
How did you find juggling work with studying?
I had a very supportive employer who allowed me some time to study at work when the company moved a lot of employees to a larger site. The rest of the time I managed it around the kids. Having Lorraine helped me to get my studies on track and I had a great study plan. I mapped out 2024 so I could see where the holidays are, the weeks when I could get lots of work done and those where I might struggle. Lorraine even moved a module around for me to help me manage.
What new skills and knowledge have you developed to support your role?
I’ve always had a natural empathy towards people and my career before children always lent towards people management and helping to get the best out of people. Going into HR and starting my CIPD course allowed me to understand the mechanics of the profession and the correct processes needed to be legally compliant. I now feel more confident in my abilities as I know what I’m talking about and have the knowledge to back it up. Becoming CIPD qualified also allowed me the confidence to reflect on a question before answering, to ensure I’m delivering an informed response.
Have you progressed your career by achieving your CIPD?
Yes, as to get my current role I had to be level 5 qualified or working towards my CIPD diploma.
Being qualified will help me move forward in my career. I would like to be recognised as an HR manager and having this qualification will certainly enable that.
How important is it to be CIPD qualified in HR?
It’s really important to be CIPD qualified and you see it in every job advertisement. Employers want their HR people to be CIPD qualified. When you see the CIPD level in adverts, it gives a good indication of the responsibilities in the job.
What are your ultimate career aims?
For me it’s all about progressing in HR and improving my role to management level. I want to climb the ladder, but being a force for employee wellbeing, whether for this employer or the next, is a priority too.
Would you recommend Reed Business School?
I would definitely recommend Reed Business School. It’s been a lovely experience. Much of that has to do with my tutor Lorraine as, for me, she was the face of the business and is fantastic at what she does, I cannot rave about her enough. Generally, I was really pleased with the guidance from Reed and I felt that the support was excellent whenever I needed to email them, even over something simple like changing my work address. From a customer service point of view they were brilliant.