Count yourself lucky if you’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting Lorraine Wilson, our very own HR expert here at Zafire Group! Lorraine has over 25 years’ experience in HR, a formidable knowledge of employment law, and the most infectious sense of humour to boot. She brings so much more to her role than her considerable expertise. We don’t know what we would do without her!
We caught up with Lorraine to get her unique scoop on working for Zafire Group and to find out more about her both personally and professionally, in between several highly therapeutic bouts of raucous laughter.
How long have you worked at Zafire and how has the company changed since then?
As of January 2022, I’ve been working at Zafire for four years. Those years have absolutely flown by! Our biggest change in this period was the very sad, very sudden passing of one of our founders in 2019. Inevitably, this brought about a significant change to the structure of the team.
There have been other changes in the spirit of continuous improvement as well. We’ve continued to improve our internal communications and management information, and this has undoubtedly enabled us to streamline our processes and enhance efficiencies in many areas of the business. Zafire HQ in Banbury, UK, was also given some TLC and these renovations have created an even brighter, more welcoming work environment which has gone down really well with the team. Learning and development has always been important to Zafire Group and is now a major focus for 2022: our continued growth and success depends upon our commitment to investing in the growth and development of the team.
What is your role at Zafire and what does it entail?
I’m the Group HR Manager and I have responsibility for working in partnership with our directors and senior managers to develop and deliver a people strategy in line with Zafire Group’s strategic business plan. In practical terms, this means I support all team members throughout our global offices in the UK, Australia, and USA, and across all HR disciplines, to ensure that we employ the right people to do the right things at the right time! Inclusivity is important as is ensuring everyone is enjoying themselves in their role.
What advice do you have for prospective candidates?
These are my top tips:
- Do your homework and research the company to make sure you want to join the business.
- Be yourself and let your enthusiasm and love for what you do shine through in the interview process.
- Answer any questions as fully as you can. If you can’t, explain that you haven’t dealt with that particular situation before. Give examples of what you think you might do if it arose in the future.
- Ask your own questions about the business: any prospective employer also needs to sell itself to you, the prospective employee!
- Make sure the company has all the information they need from you to help them make their final decision.
- If you love the sound of the job, don’t be afraid to say so.
What do you find the most challenging at Zafire?
The last two years of living and working through the global COVID-19 pandemic have definitely been challenging for all of us here at Zafire Group. Whilst the business has performed incredibly well, it’s still been a tough time for our team members in all our offices worldwide. The pandemic affected everyone in one way or another. We’ve all survived our own unique experience of the pandemic at different times because of our different geographical locations and our different personal circumstances. As a business, Zafire has worked hard to support each and every one of our team members as best we could. I think we succeeded. Our team members were typically amazing and fully supported the business at all times. What might have been one of the most challenging of times in the history of Zafire has actually been one of the most united times.
What do you like the most about Zafire?
I love that it’s a professional business with high-profile customers but it’s also a very friendly organization with a family feel to it. The CEO’s door is always open to any and every member of the team. And we have a truly great team of hard-working colleagues, many of whom are long-serving which speaks volumes about the kind of workplace environment we have created. It’s a fun place to work and the team’s work ethic is great. We all know what we need to do. We all support each other to do it, with much laughter along the way. It just works!
Are you messy or organized?
I’m organized, both at work and at home. I have a hectic life at times and two very loving, crazy, and active cockapoos as well. Being organized is a must! I always start the day with a carefully structured plan. As we all know, however, it can be a challenge to stick to a plan on the days when life throws you curveballs. It’s important, therefore, to be flexible and go with the flow. I do like having a clear desk at work, though. I find I function better, and being organized makes it easier to pick up from where you left off, doesn’t it?
If Hollywood made a movie about your life, who would you like to see cast as you?
It would have to be Sandra Bullock! She’s friendly and down to earth, and she can also be a bit direct when it’s required. She has a good sense of humour and doesn’t take herself too seriously. I’m not sure what her Scottish accent would be like, though!
Tell us a little bit about yourself (and your Scottish accent!).
Thank goodness you didn’t ask me to say Curly Wurly! I was born and lived in the Paisley area of Scotland until I moved down to London in 2000. I can dance the Highland Fling and Sword Dance. And yes, the weight of a kilt and the swing from the pleats when you are 12 years old has the potential to throw you off a stage almost into the front row during a dancing display (thankfully not on that occasion!). As much as I can, I go back to Scotland to visit friends and family and to top up my accent. It takes about two hours from when I return for my speech to slow down and become comprehensible again. So I’m told! I have two cockapoos who are definitely my little fur babies, and don’t they know it!
Which city is your favourite and what is your favourite thing to do there?
My partner and I pop over to the Murcia Region of Spain for short breaks whenever we can. We love it there! We go regularly to the city of Cartagena. It’s a beautiful, historical, seaside city and it has great shops and lovely restaurants. I particularly enjoy spending a leisurely afternoon sitting outside one of the many restaurants. What’s not to love about a huge selection of tapas and a great bottle of wine? I love watching the world go by.
What would people never guess you do in your role?
They would probably never guess that I laugh quite as much as I do in my role! Historically, the general perception of HR hasn’t always been a very positive one, sadly. However, we really are human and we really do have a sense of humour, I promise! I hope that during my years in HR, I’ve changed some of those perceptions along the way.
Thank you Lorraine!
