At BHP, we feel really strongly about providing career opportunities for non-graduates and school leavers, and none more so than HR Manager Jayne Sibley. Jayne joined BHP just over seven years ago, although technically she has over 22 years’ service after joining via TUPE transfer!
Jayne is passionate about inspiring and supporting young people at the start of their careers. Today, we’re showcasing her expertise and experience in HR and recruitment. Read our interview below to find out more about Jayne!
Can you tell me a bit about your experience before joining BHP?
I started out as a Board level PA for the first 20 years of my career, working in the manufacturing and construction industries, before joining the Sheffield office of one of the “big” accountancy firms as their Office Manager. My role became increasingly focused on HR, including helping some of the firm’s clients with projects such as redundancies and complex disciplinaries and grievances.
What is your current position in the firm and what are your main responsibilities?
I’m a generalist HR Professional with responsibility for recruitment, supporting our Partners and Managers on a variety of people matters and managing professional study for our 140 apprentices.
What are you most passionate about in your career?
Early careers recruitment and building a pipeline of diverse talent to support BHP’s strategic goals. It is wonderful to be able to inspire and support young people at the start of their career, guiding them through the recruitment process and their professional study and then onward as they thrive post-qualification! It really is a privilege to play a small part in their journey.
What do you enjoy most about working at BHP?
Exactly what everyone at BHP says; my colleagues and the firm’s culture. It sounds like such a cliché, but it’s true! Throughout the significant growth of BHP over the past seven years since I joined, we’ve been able to maintain the warm, supportive culture that welcomed me alongside a handful of colleagues in very difficult circumstances, following the death of my dear friend and our employer at the time, Melanie Viner. They’re all still at BHP too, with the exception of a couple of retirees!
What are your highlights and key achievements?
I’m really proud of the Work Experience Academy we ran for the first time last year. We provided a week-long immersive event, which gave the attendees a real insight into the world of work and the opportunities available to them.
What would you say to anyone thinking about applying for an apprenticeship at BHP?
Don’t think twice; do it! Whether you’re intending to join straight from 6th form, or as a career changer or University graduate, our apprenticeship opportunities provide a wealth of practical work experience. We offer interesting client work across a variety of industries, friendly and supportive colleagues, and excellent tuition to help you attain your professional qualifications.
We were accredited for a second time recently as a Great Place to Work and you’d be hard pressed to find somewhere better to start your career!
What do you enjoy doing outside work?
Most weekends, I can be found somewhere in the UK in a muddy field or trackside, supporting my 16-year-old daughter who competes as a middle-distance runner. Or cheering on my husband whose idea of fun is triathlon and marathon running. In between all of that, we enjoy spending time in our glorious local countryside with family and friends who share our love of good food and the odd drink or three.
What might surprise people to learn about you?
My mother’s family came to the UK from Sicily and founded the oldest Ice Cream Company in the Yorkshire & Derbyshire area in 1864. They were one of the founding Italian families in Sheffield, known as the “West Bar Italians”. They also ran an Ice Cream Saloon, a Pub and a Boarding House, where my great, great grandfather, Luigge (Louis) Cuneo, mended barrel organs and kept dancing bears in their bear pit.
What is your dream holiday destination?
We love to travel! We spent six months travelling around China and SE Asia just after we were married and would love to do something similar in the future, but probably Central and South America next time!
If you weren’t working for BHP, what would be your dream job?
When I realised I was rubbish at chemistry, I knocked my aspirations to become a forensic pathologist on the head and decided instead that I wanted to become a journalist. Life got in the way, but that dream has never quite gone away….
