WIRELINE Issue 32 - Summer 2015

HR MANAGER

PROFILE

Ingen Ideas was twice shortlisted in 2014 for Oil & Gas UK Awards in the Investment in People and Mentor of the Year categories. Most recently, the company was the first small company globally to receive the Institution of Chemical Engineers’ Gold Corporate Partner Award in recognition of its training and development programme and dedication to chemical engineering

“ It’s all about repopulating the industry by sharing the experiences and knowledge we have within the company. We genuinely feel scale shouldn’t be a barrier – small companies like Ingen can make a big contribution. ”

She explains: “The whole leadership team worked hard to ensure that communication was honest with realistic expectations of what the changes meant to the company. I also encouraged employees to come to me with any questions outwith a group environment and it helped to mitigate any of the concerns. No-one left as a result of the change, and that was a clear indicator for me that the culture here absolutely works.” In the current climate, Cheryl believes even moreso that “HR has to look at the value it generates for the company and the individual – how to ensure the organisation continues to develop people but in an efficient way. For example, using the knowledge and expertise of peers and colleagues within the business through on-the-job mentoring, internal lunch and learns, and a culture that encourages innovation and open discussive communication. The internal ACT Scheme also allows us to bring our engineers to chartership several years faster than conventional methods.”

Forward thinking Ingen’s approach means that, despite being a small company, it is playing its part to inspire young people who are contemplating the industry as a career option. The company promotes chemical engineering – its core discipline – through school work experience and undergraduate summer and industrial placement programmes. “We look to ensure continuity through our undergraduate placement programmes, with the same people coming through the process and ready to join us with a good

“It’s all about repopulating the industry by sharing the experiences and knowledge we have within the company,” she says. “We genuinely feel scale shouldn’t be a barrier – small companies like Ingen can make a big contribution.” Cheryl hopes her own experience to date – as a young mum who has an enjoyable and successful full-time career while maintaining a healthy work-life balance – will encourage other women to follow suit. “I also hope it encourages my boys, as they grow up, to take on board the value of working alongside strong and inspiring women in their own careers.”

knowledge of the business and the wider industry,” explains Cheryl.

www.ingen-ideas.com

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