Focus on on HR HR
Interview with Sharon Ault
Designate Director of Human Resources and Organisational Development for Optivo
‘ Your assumptions are your windows on the world . Scrub them off every once in a while , or the light won ’ t come in ’.
Congratulations on your appointment Sharon . What most excites you about this role ? I ’ m excited at having the opportunity to help shape the way we work as a business .
I genuinely believe that people are our most important asset and that it ’ s our colleagues who will drive our success . In this respect , there are lots of ways we ’ ll be supporting colleagues to develop . The plans for the new Academy are progressing well and our aim to lead the sector on Equality , Diversity and Inclusion will be at the heart of all we do .
It ’ s fantastic to have the opportunity to work in what will be one of the ten largest housing associations , with the capacity to build so many more homes at a time when the need has never been greater .
Who have you been working with on the HR workstream ? Many HR colleagues from both Viridian and AmicusHorizon are involved in the workstream and we have engaged with colleagues from IT and Payroll and Pensions on the HR aspects of these specialist areas .
What has the HR workstream come up with so far ? As you ’ ll appreciate , lots of HR elements need to be in place from day one , as any new recruits will be joining Optivo . These include : pensions , contracts , HR Policies and Processes and Terms and Conditions .
The most exciting things we ’ ve worked on include developing the HR & OD Strategy ; engaging with the respective Staff Forums to shape the new joint one ; proposing and gaining Board approval for formal recognition of Unison and being involved in the work which supported the development of the CORE values . We ’ ve also been selecting colleagues to train to become Gober Gurus . They ’ ll play a key role in our customer service training .
Tell us a bit about yourself . What do you get up to in your spare time outside of work ? I love spending time with family and friends , walking my daughter ’ s dog and being a spectator at horse eventing , which combines the three disciplines of dressage , cross country and show jumping in a single horse / rider combination .
We have also just moved house and have a major renovation project and are about to adopt a rescue cat .
Finally , what ’ s your favourite inspirational quotation ? There are so many inspirational quotes which I love . However , I changed my favourite recently when I attended Katrina Robinson , Viridian Head of Legal ’ s brilliant presentation for LGBT History month . It ’ s by Isaac Asimov and I ’ d not heard it before :
‘ Your assumptions are your windows on the world . Scrub them off every once in a while , or the light won ’ t come in ’. It ’ s so very true and incredibly powerful .
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