Role models to help you see the possible

This is me. It is always good to reflect - and on women's day in particular to think about major influencers in my life. My wonderful grandmother was a woman well ahead of her time.  Married three times to progressively younger men, always running her own businesses...

An Evening to Remember: the 2022 Investors in People Awards

November gave us more to celebrate as we were delighted to be shortlisted for two awards at the prestigious Investors in People Awards 2022 (read about our 2nd achievement of Platinum). In a record-breaking year for entries, with over three hundred organisations involved, we were shortlisted for the Award for Best Use of Technology and Chloe Williams, our Customer Liaison Executive, nominated as a finalist for the Award for Young Person of the Year.

Investors in People: Scoring the Platinum Double!

September this year proved to be a wonderful month for us here at Cullen Scholefield. Not only was it our 36th birthday, but we discovered, with great delight, that we had been awarded the much sought after Platinum Accreditation from Investors in People. What’s more, it was our second time round for being recognised in such a manner and, in a nutshell, means we practice what we preach!

The Artificial Intelligence (AI) skills evolution and what it means for leaders in the People Profession

Click here to go straight to our AI Poll By Annabelle Watt, Consultant Partner, Cullen Scholefield   You may, as a leader in the People Profession, be feeling anxious about the impact of Artificial Intelligence on your organisation, particularly how you might...

The Rise of ‘Inverted or Servant’ Leadership

I read an interesting article earlier this week that explored the notion of servant leaders. Generally, organisational charts show leaders at the top. Leadership is changing with a growing view that leaders act in service of others, i.e., servant leadership. Let’s...
Change is all around us

Change is all around us

Sometimes the oldies are the goodies. One of my favourite goodies is Alvin Toffler, I first came across him at a time in my life when I was beginning to have confidence in myself and my own ability to learn. His book The Third Wave made so much sense to me then and now. Toffler used the term waves:

read more
Do we need to stop saying HR and talk about PEOPLE ?

Do we need to stop saying HR and talk about PEOPLE ?

Is it time to stop using the term Human Resources, or perhaps even Human Capital and go back to the root of the word Personnel – People ? Consider the following: It is a fact that despite moves to robots, the highest cost to most organisations is their people. It is also widely recognised that an engaged workforce is more productive than a dis-engaged workforce.

read more
High performing teams – why go for just a few superstars?

High performing teams – why go for just a few superstars?

Well guess what? We were out celebrating last night – our excuse was Seb’s birthday! We take birthdays seriously at Cullen Scholefield; it gives us an opportunity to spend time together in a social context and to spoil the birthday boy or girl. Who doesn’t like to feel special?

read more
2020 Vision – Health and Wellbeing – what’s the connection?

2020 Vision – Health and Wellbeing – what’s the connection?

2020 once seemed such a long way away and yet in less than 5 years we will be there! I will be facilitating a strategic planning session later this week. I have been mulling over the approach I will take with the owners of this young company that’s now 2 years old – I was with them at its birth!

read more
Cultural fit is vital to Employee Engagement

Cultural fit is vital to Employee Engagement

Tuesday was the Haywards Heath and District Business Association (HHDBA) networking event at Idlewild and as it was the Chair’s “Official” Birthday BBQ bash it seemed sensible to invite our prospective new employee and two potential students from the University of Sussex. Many members of our team were there too. It was great to also see our last Bright Young Thing (BYT), Eleanor Brough and catch up with her news.

read more
New EI for People Professionals?  How Emoji Intelligent are you?

New EI for People Professionals? How Emoji Intelligent are you?

My magpie mind gets me into some strange places… so when an article in Real Business popped up on my computer I got to wondering.  We know that we are now in a 5 generation workforce – this table for Roffey Park’s whitepaper Talent and the Generations is useful....

read more
Consistency and change – how can these be compatible?

Consistency and change – how can these be compatible?

Consistency and change - how can these be compatible? It is strange how something can trigger a train of thought! Let me explain… Cullen Scholefield has supported Comic Relief right from the start, I was delighted to get an eMail from them last week. Here comes the...

read more
Grey skies but blue sky thinking

Grey skies but blue sky thinking

One of the wonderful things for me is that no week is ever exactly the same – perhaps this is what gives me energy and sparks my sense of mischief! Monday was getting back to the office after a week in Gibraltar and then an evening meeting with my Chair of Haywards...

read more
Thoughts on celebrating and being celebrated…from Gibraltar

Thoughts on celebrating and being celebrated…from Gibraltar

Travelling always gives you the opportunity to reflect, perhaps this is one of the reasons I am happy to travel and Gibraltar has been a regular haunt of mine since we have been developing People Professionals here for nearly three years. In those early days I came...

read more
Mean machines and the Isle of Man

Mean machines and the Isle of Man

So whilst most of the UK has been sweltering and Gina has been buying ice lollies for the office, Carol and I have been on a slightly cooler Isle of Man.  Always lovely to be hear and catch up with people who we have known for so many years!! Imagine our surprise and...

read more
Puppy training and people power!

Puppy training and people power!

No I haven’t lost the plot this week…  I am real believer in the amazing power of synchronicity and serendipity – both are in my life at the moment.  I also believe that they are in the lives of all of us – if we can recognise it!! So the synchronicity part – our...

read more

What has fun got to do with it?

We are delighted to welcome Rob Gordon back to our team – he has gallantly returned to us and those of you that know Rob, know that he is just that!  Our lovely Toni is still ill and we need support. So the team have been calling out to remind our current and...

read more
Swimming and Performance Management

Swimming and Performance Management

Today had an interesting start for me – a 06:45 pick up to go swimming!   It was a lovely morning and swimming out in the outside pool was fabulous!  Madness did I hear you mutter?   Swimming and I go back a long way from my childhood in Africa and then competitive...

read more
How to make time for young talent?

How to make time for young talent?

Sometimes it is easy to say – I haven’t the time to develop young people.  Time is always such a precious commodity isn’t it? Cullen Scholefield has always championed the value of what I call “bright young things”.  I value their opinions and contribution to our...

read more

Mad Max and resilience!

Gina and I went to see Mad Max last night in 3D at our local Cineworld.  The effects were stunning and had us on the edge of our seats, so relaxing would not be a word I would use to describe the film but I would say it was all about resilience! This got me thinking...

read more
Pay it forward applied to Feedback?

Pay it forward applied to Feedback?

It has been great to be in Gibraltar having some time to chill and catch up with candidates.   Yesterday I went to the Gibraltar CIPD Branch Meeting.  It was a really practical session facilitated by Sylvia Kenna who is on the committee and leads a consultancy called...

read more
Easy isn’t always easy

Easy isn’t always easy

Yesterday I flew to Gibraltar – up at 04:00, who said travelling was glamorous?  It was a challenging day for Carolyn McCall of Easyjet too.  After reporting a profit of £7m for the first 6 months of trading against a loss of £53m for the same period last year,...

read more
A quintessentially British afternoon

A quintessentially British afternoon

Today is going to be a day when we all exercise our rights as British Citizens.  Some of us will vote and some won’t.  I do wonder whether we realise how privileged we are to be British.  This thought crossed my mind when I witnessed Gina formally become a British...

read more

Ahead of the Game or the Second Curve?

A few people have been deeply shocked by a recent decision of mine. So I hope when you read this today I will not cause alarm… I decided to go on the wagon or take the pledge, for no other reason than to prove that I could. Those of you who know me well are well aware...

read more
Approved CIPD Qualification Centre - Cullen Scholefield