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Jill manages a juggling act

18 November 2004

 

Charity fund-raising, working in Human Resources, and studying part-time, Jill Newman has combined all of these. And it’s proved a successful mix, for Jill graduates today from the University of Teesside with a Master of Arts (MA) degree in Human Resource Management and will also receive an academic prize. Jill will be awarded the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development (CIPD) prize of student of the year.

Jill, 29, from Stockton, works as a Human Resources (HR) consultant for Sage in Newcastle, an IT company. She first became interested in working in HR over ten years ago, while studying for a BTEC in Business and Finance.

Jill said: “At first I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. Then I got interested in the HR elements, I really enjoyed the people side of the subject.”

After achieving a Diploma in Personnel Management in London, Jill worked in various HR posts in London, Sunderland and finally for Cleveland Police. She then started to think about the MA course at Teesside, which can be studied part-time over two years.

Jill said: “The course had everything I wanted, particularly with respect to the strategic side of HR. My research, written and communication skills have really improved. I can now look at examples of best practice in HR and relate it to what I am doing.

“The course was really demanding and I had to sacrifice weekends. My husband Chris was studying Law at the same time so sometimes we only saw each other when we were having our five-hour changeover to use the computer! So I was really pleased when I heard about the prize, all the hard work has paid off.”

Jill joined Sage in September. Away from work, she is a keen fund-raiser. Her efforts have raised £1,500 for three causes; a Women’s Refuge in Sunderland, Teesside Hospice and Daisy Chain in Norton. The latter is a farm that provides respite care for autistic children. Jill is soon to sell more raffle tickets for the Daisy Chain.


 
 
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