WORK HORSE balance
Group HR manager of Techbuyer Ltd
How I make it work: Having a routine and being organised, plus my partner, Joe, is massively supportive and does all the cooking and food shopping
The 27-year-old who works in human resources explains how she juggles a demanding role with competing her Cob x Irish Draught mare at prelim level in pure dressage.
My job...
I am the group human resources (HR) manager of Techbuyer Ltd, a leading provider of sustainable IT solutions. I have worked for the company for over six years. I started shortly after I had graduated from Leeds Beckett University with a degree in business and HR management. I started as an HR officer and I now split my time between operational project improvement, coaching the HR team and supporting our HR director in strategic work.
I love working in such a fast-paced environment and I enjoy the variation. I can confidently say that no two days are ever the same.
How I got here…
I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do following A Levels, but I ruled out horses as a career choice quite early on, knowing deep down that I didn’t have what it takes to work with them professionally. I also didn’t enjoy the science subjects at school which ruled out the vet /physio routes. However, I did a week’s work experience with a friend of my mum’s who worked in human resources development. I loved the variety and afterwards I managed to secure a couple of part-time HR jobs while studying full time (alongside having a horse called Harvey on assisted DIY livery and keeping him in full competition work). My aim was to walk out of my degree and straight into a decent HR job — which I did, with just four days off in between. After a few months I realised that the company I was working for wasn’t quite the right fit, which is when I moved to Techbuyer.
My horses…
Harvey, a Welsh section D cross, was my first horse who I got when I was 15 and he was five. After viewing him, I took him home on a week’s trial and then snapped him up. We learned together, but it wasn’t always plain sailing. Even though he was purchased as a first horse, he really did test my ability and conf idence, but over our 10 years together we competed up to medium level in dressage. He was incredible to ride, being so soft in the hand and responsive
off my seat. Unfortunately, I lost him unexpectedly after an episode of colic. It was in Harvey’s best interest to let him pass. It was heartbreaking, though, and the worst thing I have ever had to deal with. I thought we would grow old together.
Afte
