Our aim is to make a contribution to improving the quality of life of people and promoting community well-being.
HR Officer, Lesley Pert
Who am I?
My name is Lesley Pert, I am a Human Resource Officer with the Hillcrest Group of Companies. I began working with Gowrie Housing Association in 2000 and when Gowrie and Hillcrest merged together in 2004, Hillcrest became my employer.
What do I do?
I work within a team of 9 people and my role is to provide professional HR advice and guidance to everyone within the company on all matters relating to their employment.
The majority of my time is spent working with line managers and assisting them with day to day issues in the workplace. Some examples of this are recruiting new employees to the organisation, and meeting with people who are absent from work due to ill health, and helping to support them back to the workplace. I also provide coaching and mentoring on a regular basis to ensure best practice at all times. Sometimes I can find myself performing a balancing act to ensure both the company and the individual’s needs are successfully met.
As the company has grown, the job has changed substantially since I first began. Initially my role was predominantly office based, whereas now, the majority of my working day is spent outwith the office or away from my desk. Whilst based in Dundee, I cover a wide geographical area including Angus, Perthshire, Fife and Glasgow and can honestly say that no two days are ever the same.
Continuous Learning
The organisation places a big emphasis on Learning and Development and encourages employees to enhance their skills and improve their knowledge on an ongoing basis. Certainly from my own point of view, I am greatly appreciative of the assistance I was given to allow me to undertake a Professional Qualification in Human Resource Management, and the continuous learning I require to ensure my knowledge and skills are up to date with the ever changing world of employment law.
Rewarding aspects of the job?
It is rewarding when you see employees achieving their goals, successfully completing qualifications and gaining promotion within the organisation. A variety of situations can impact on an individual’s ability to do their job or come to their work and I gain a great deal of satisfaction when I know I have been able to help someone at such a time.
The Hillcrest Group
The Hillcrest Group offers excellent opportunities to everyone, and as an employer offer benefits such as competitive salary, final salary pension scheme, healthcare cash plan and childcare vouchers, which in the current economic climate, are most greatly welcomed.
As an Investor in People accredited organisation, the company tries to ensure it communicates well with all staff and involve them where appropriate, in decisions. There are several working groups to encourage staff involvement such as Healthy Working Lives, Staff Representative Group, and a Social Committee who do a great job in organising a wide variety of events.
All in all, I would say to any new or prospective employee that The Hillcrest Group is a fantastic company to work for. I really enjoy the job I do and I personally feel very fortunate to work with an organisation that values its employees and the contribution they make.