Congratulations! Lucy Hayes Assoc CIPD

Director Lucy Hayes gains her CIPD Level 5 Diploma in People Management

When Q3 was formed in 2018, Lucy joined the embryo business as Bid Director. However, it very quickly became apparent that a HR function was needed to ensure Q3 fulfilled its commitment to becoming a true, people employer, in line with its values.

Lucy decided to take on the challenge of leading the HR function and embark on a complete change of career direction. Few people knew this, but Lucy’s first job straight out of school had been in HR, and her passion for all things HR remained. So, deciding on this career change was very much a return to her original calling.

With Q3 at such a critical time in its development, HR was key to the company’s future growth and success. To make it work, Lucy reached out across the business and pulled on every bit of resource, advice, and guidance she could, attending seminars and networking events and riding a very steep learning curve.

To enhance her role, in 2020 Lucy enrolled at the City of Bristol College to embark on her CIPD level 3 qualification, which she passed with flying colours and went straight into her CIPD Level 5 Diploma in People Management. On Saturday, 19th November, she formally graduated at a ceremony held at Bristol Cathedral.

This is a great achievement. Not only was Lucy undertaking this qualification during the Covid pandemic, but she was also home schooling her 12-year-old son whilst juggling a full-time job, studying for the diploma, and being a mum.

Commenting on her graduation, Lucy said, “I could not have accomplished this without the support of Martyn, Lian, Stuart and Alex and everyone at Q3 who supported me during this time. The biggest thanks go to my partner Pete, who continued to push me even when things got tough, my sister Verity who distracted me when distractions were needed and my absolute shining star Harry (my son), who understood the sacrifice I was making when I had to work all week and study all weekend.

“It is my intention to continue to level 7 but first I’m going to give myself a year off, to concentrate on implementing all that I’ve learned into Q3 and to continue to make Q3 a great place to be.”